Weapons programs are more difficult to remove than weapons, and more important .
Jeeze didn't you guys read The Cardinal in the Kremlin ?
I think everybody knows that Saddam had an active nuclear weapons program for almost two decades right ? Ok then.
So it was a question of containment vs removal.
Bear in mind containment meant the deployment of an armored division and inspection teams on a permanent basis, meanwhile Saddam get's to be a complete maniacal tyrant to his people .
Removal means a short war, and big expensive restablization .
Overall I think we made the most economical decision, both in terms of humanity and money. And I think the removal option yielded the most happiness, for Iraqis, neighbors of Iraq, and most importantly us .