Saddam Hussein is dead. His execution was a direct object and result of the decisions made by the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush. As president, former governor of Texas and a Harvard MBA, Mr. Bush should be extraordinarly equipped to determine a simple cost-benefit analysis when it comes to the application of human, financial and political resources: Was Saddam Hussein's death worth what we have collectively spent to bring it about?
UPDATE: In the final vote tally, 48 said killing Saddam was not worth what America, Iraq and the world have endured and six said it was. I knew somebody would vote "yes" since liberals, moderates and Democrats are not the only ones who frequent this site, but I have to admit, I'm confused. For those of you who believe taking out Saddam Hussein was worth the price paid to do so, you must be conservative Republicans. I am puzzled, however, since an additional cost that I did not include was your ideology's loss of Congress and gain of disrepute among moderates and independents. Why is this not an entirely self-defeating proposition? Or if a safety issue, and you feel safer with Saddam dead, should we pay this price, maybe a steeper one, for taking out the leaders of Iran and North Korea? Or should we nuke those capitals and kill millions? Are you that frightened? I'm not--I lived through the Cold War. I guess I'd just like to know: WHY? Feel free to explain yourselves.
Nearly 3,000 U.S. Armed Forces members are dead.
Was he worth it?
Tens of thousands of American troops are wounded, thousands of familes impacted, nearly countless lives and careers disrupted or destroyed.
Was he worth it?
Thousands of foreign troops and non-Iraqi civilians are dead or maimed.
Was he worth it?
Up to 650,000 Iraqis have died of violence since the invasion, including woefully overmatch troops defending their country against an illegal act of aggression, and about 2,000,000 are refugees inside or outside of Iraq.
Was he worth it?
One trillion dollars. If we began demobilizing tomorrow, this war would cost us at least that, all things considered, including the lifelong care many of the wounded will need.
Was he worth it?
The country known as Iraq, the cradle of human civilization, is in near anarchy, it is a new terrorist training and recruiting center and it's treasures of antiquity have been looted.
Was he worth it?
The Middle East is teetering on the brink of widescale war, Britain, Israel and the U.S. are less safe, our international credibility is gone, Iran is more powerful than ever, our allegiances are strained at best and almost all acknowledge our military is at the breaking point.
Was he worth it?
Some of our bravest and proudest became kidnappers, torturers and murderers betraying principles that the civilized world has followed for generations.
Was he worth it?
While preoccupied with Iraq, Afghanistan has gone into meltdown, North Korea is nuclear armed and genocide is rampant in Darfur, all matters that required the attention, resources and former moral authority of the U.S. but went unabated.
Was he worth it?
Our country has passed from "standing shoulder-to-shoulder" with the President, to sharply divided to an extent not seen since the Vietnam war.
Was he worth it?
Using Saddam as a bogeyman along with his non-existent connection to Al Qaeda and WMDs, our Constitution has been raped by many of those sworn to uphold its provisions.
Was he worth it?
If the execution of Saddam Hussein was not worth any of these things individually, how could his death justify all of these?
I do not mourn Saddam Hussein. I mourn what our country and the world have paid to bring it about for and at the behest of the President of the United States, George W. Bush.