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. I disagree with your assertion that the Pals will not be satisfied with less than removal of Israel. I know there are examples of rhetoric from them and from other Arabs, to the contrary. I also know that sometimes "read my lips" doesn't mean "no new taxes" at all. Things change. Good managers make sure they change in beneficial ways.

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. GWI was a righteous war, and I supported it. I don't see the point of this line of discussion.

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. Maybe. Not all nuclear programs succeed. Sometimes governments are overthrown. People die. Sometimes people start righteous wars without the US egging them on or taking charge.

Proliferation is a bad thing, and we should oppose it when we find it. But this is the real world. Everyone would like to have a weapon that would make the US (or anyone) think twice before invading. The scarier we are, the stronger the effect.

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.

Sure. Might have been less costly ways to do it. Dunno.

Saddam ruling Kuwait and sitting on atomic bombs, but no Osama. Not sure that would have been a good trade. Pretty hypothetical, and starting with a premise that I still don't understand the need for.