[esalman]

Are we rewriting history here?

Saddam was a de facto US ally till 1988. The relationship ended with the end of their mutual interests.

US sent terrorism suspects to Bashar regime to be tortured after 9/11.

Yeah eventually both relationships fell out but all the vile things both did happened under US watch, and US only stepped in when political/economic clash happened.

[energy123]

We are adhering to definitions of words. The US engaged in classic offshore balancing by backing Iraq when Iran gained the momentum on the frontline. There was no alliance between Iraq and the US.

[nswest23]

waiting for details on how "backing Iraq" is materially different from an "alliance" with Iraq...I'm hesitant to throw yet _another_ word into the mix but there's an entire wikipedia page on US "support" for Iraq.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_support_for_Iraq...

[esalman]

I guess the Gaza war is also an offshore balancing.