[WesternStar]

I didn't discuss Saddam because he was largely irrelevant to our strategic goals. The supporter I'm referring to is the ordinary citizen who helps to facilitate and fund the jihadi. Those 100k civilians were the medium for the message.

If those insurgents are largely focused on local state control that is a net win for the United States in my opinion.

[mercurial]

There was no insurgency in Iraq before the invasion. The net result of which was triggering a bloody civil war, fuel hatred of the West for decades, destabilize the whole area and reinforce Iran. I don't see how this furthers the US' strategic goals. My understanding is that the only message that has been taken home is that the Bush administration had as little understanding of the country as it had regard for the rule of law.