Israel is the only real outpost of Western democratic civilization in the Mideast. I would rather Israel be run by the Israelis, than by those currently in charge of the Palestinian movements. We already have plenty of thugocracies over there, thanks. And sorry, but the Palestinians are not interested in coexistence.

As for Iraq and Kuwait, had we sat out the Gulf War, and let Saddam eat Kuwait, the near-term consequences would not have been that obvious, but in the long term, as Saddam consolidated his hold, it was obvious that Kuwait would have just been first on the list. A stranglehold on oil would follow eventually.

The other major consequence is that Saddam's hidden nuclear program, which was only revealed after the Gulf War, would have come to fruition, and Saddam would be a nuclear power today.

We had troops in Saudi Arabia to support the sanctions and suppression of Saddam after the Gulf War. They would probably have not been there otherwise, so maybe Osama would never have gotten started.

Saddam ruling Kuwait and sitting on atomic bombs, but no Osama. Not sure that would have been a good trade.