Jeb Bush: As My Previous Three Answers On Iraq Were Ruled Incorrect, I'm Leader Enough, and My Own Man Enough, To Give the Answer Everyone Is Telling Me to Give

Now, on just his fourth try, Jeb says he would not have invaded Iraq, given what we know now.

Jeb is now parroting Rubio's answer, which is that he would not have invaded, but the "world is safer" without Saddam Hussein.

Some people are treating this as if it's some kind of contradiction. It is so clearly no contradiction I have no idea what other people are thinking.

The world would be a better place if we invaded a lot of countries and killed a lot of tyrants.

But we don't, not because it wouldn't make the world a better place, but because we have limited resources and because our troops' lives are precious.

Is it a good thing for the world to depose Saddam Hussein? Yes.

Is 5000 dead and 15,000 injured good? Is it that good for the US particularly, given that price? No.

It's like buying a Lambo. Sure, Lambos are awesome and your life will be immeasurably better for owning a 'bo.

But is it worth $90,000?

Well, opinions may vary on that -- and it depends on how much value you assign to each dollar, or prioritize what each dollar could be spent upon over the spending of them on a sweet sweet 'bo.

But it's simply flat-out undeniably true that No, had we known Saddam did not possess WMDs in any kind of significant capacity, we would not have made this kind of commitment in men and materiel to evict him.

Bomb him? Sure; Clinton did that every few months. Pay and train revolutionaries to kill him? Sure, why not.

But if we knew Iraq did not have WMDs in large quantities, then it would be like invading Nigeria to sweep out Boko Haram.

Would killing all of Boko Haram make the world a better place? Of course.

But would we sign up to kill 5000 of our best men just to accomplish a good that largely inures to other people's accounts?

No.

Again, this is pretty obvious. I don't see the point of lying about it just so we can claim to be "consistent" or not have to admit any possible error in past decisions.

posted by Ace at 06:10 PM

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