Iraqi Freedom Plus 10

Ten years ago today President George W. Bush launched the military assault that liberated Iraq. In short order, a U.S.-led coalition achieved its central purpose of eliminating the threat posed by the terrorism sponsoring  Saddam Hussein, and thereby giving the Iraqi people a chance for a better government and future.

There’s much to find fault with in terms of what followed the invasion of Iraq. Missteps with respect to nation building, which however well-intentioned, gave rise to an unwanted and undesirable US occupation at huge cost to our military personnel and tax payers, and to Iraqis.

That said, it was a strategic imperative to remove Saddam from power before the sanctions regime that held him in check completely unraveled. Ten years on Americans should take pride in having risen to that challenge.