"It would have been prudent IMHO for the United States to work with the UN on this"

By this I hope you mean that the UN should have been more assertive, because the US tried to work with the UN, but they didn't want to back up the resolutions they made. They let Saddam kick out the inspectors in 1998, we should have went above the head of the UN then. There may have been less protesting then, with Clinton in office, however with the Democratic party all confused, I guess that would have been impossible. Plus, we found more in 10 days than the inspectors found in 10 years. I wonder how many people were tortured and killed in that 10 years.

It absolutely 100% looks like we have done the right thing at this point.

We definately should act in our interests in foreign affairs. At least until my life is over. We should make our friendships stronger and eliminate our enemies.

Should we have kept unfair sanctions on the Iraqi people and allow Saddam and his sons to torture and murder the people that he was keeping destitute?

Has anyone ever tried to reason with a completely illogical person? it's impossible. For people who say Bush failed diplomatically, what would you say to Saddam?

Bush: Get rid of your weapons
Saddam: I did
Bush: Prove it
Saddam: ok
Bush: You still haven't shown proof
Saddam: I don't need to
Bush: We're sending inspectors
Saddam: No
Bush: Yes
Saddam: OK, but they can't look where we keep our weapons.

etc, etc, etc...