Saddam was useful thorn in Iran’s side

Rick Tope, Las Vegas

Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012 | 2 a.m.

Bob Jack’s letter, “Iraq invasion was worth supporting,” presents a case in support of the Iraq War. He cites the atrocities promulgated by Saddam Hussein. While I do not deny Hussein was an evil figure, he did serve one useful purpose: He was a counterweight to Iran.

Iran was at war with Iraq from 1980-88. This consumed Iran’s resources and manpower. With the elimination of Hussein, and the subsequent threat from Iraq, Iranians turned their penchant for militarism toward other targets, namely the United States.

It is well-known that Iran has supplied many of the armaments used against the U.S. military in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Last week Iran threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, denying transit to oil tankers that supply a fifth of the world’s petroleum. Iran has made no secret of its program to enrich uranium, which, by nearly all accounts, is destined for nuclear weapons.

Unquestionably Iran would not have the resources available to accomplish all this if it was still dealing with the Hussein government.

One must also consider the other adverse aspects of the Iraq War: nearly 4,500 American lives lost, more than 30,000 Americans wounded and nearly $1 trillion spent. All this was squandered to eliminate one man, Saddam Hussein, who posed no threat to the United States.

The Iraq War was perhaps the largest blunder ever in the history of U.S. foreign policy.