Could have been Saddam's motto, but is the motto of the 1st Marine Division.

Maj. Gen. James Mattis, commander of the 1st Marine Division, summed up for Wolfowitz what Conway called "the U.S. Marine Corps way of doing business" with Iraqis.

"No better friend, no worse enemy — it's your choice," he said the Iraqis are told.

Clearly Saddam was a badguy and by our standards, at least former standards, did not deserve to live. AND he was no different than many, many other dictators struggling to hold together a country with deep divides. (A big difference between Iraq and post-WWII Germany and Japan - they were truly "countries" or "nations".)

And probably without that sort of strong, brutal leadership the country will indeed blow apart now.

Obviously the vast majority were pretty content with the political leadership. They may have not been happy with the sanctions starving them, and the deteriorating infrastructrure, but apparently few folks had contact with the government.

Under Saddam it seems to have been a bit like what the commander of the First Marine Division said from one of Saddam's palaces - if you go along with us we're the best friend you ever had, and if you don't go along with us we're the worst enemy you ever had.

Ironic, huh?

Arf