We all agree that Bush was no rocket scientist and while he had his issues with Saddam, he was primarily motivated and directed by his close advisers.

The WMD lie was more wishful thinking than a lie. He hoped there were WMD because that was easier to sell than the complex causa belli of creating a friendly, secular, oil rich, Middle East state in place of a power mad dictatorship.

Was it a bit arrogant and imperialistic? Yes it was, but pragmatically, it made some sense, if it had only worked out as planned.

In some ways it was like Hitler's Operation Babarosa. The Nazis believed Russia was rotten to the core and would collapse when they kicked in the door. The Nazis would have had their European hegemony, along with ample resources and would likely have made peace with England and us. Good plan if it had only worked.

Decisions that don't work out as planned are usually judged to be stupid