fairly slowly in this.  Saddam has had 12 years to become a nicer guy, Clinton even gave him an ultimatum of sorts during his tenure.  He has continually flipped his nose at the UN and done whatever he pleased.  

I really believe that if we hadn't had the troop buildup, he wouldn't have destroyed any missiles, let in any inspectors, co-operated in any way.  

Everyone wanted Bush to build a coalition and get UN support, he did.
Then when he wanted to hold Saddam accountable to the UN resolutions and he increased the military buildup, France and the other nations who are now dragging their feet, saw that their trade w/Iraq would really be interrupted. I don't know if this is the exact "right" time to take him out, but most of Congress seems to agree with Bush, that Saddam has to go, and that there has to be a firm timetable.  Even the neighboring nations are trying to convince Saddam to take exile somewhere, but he won't do it.  So now he will be forced to.

And to the question of why "we" get to be the "big guy on the block" or "bully" or whatever else they want to call it, it is because we have to.  Can you see France trying to liberate Kuwait?  It wouldn't happen.  Anytime someone is threatened, we are the ones to play "cop", sometimes it makes for bad policy and sometimes it doesn't.  But someone will be the enforcer and they will then be unpopular.  

I hate to make the comparison, but if you watch Survivor, the same dynamics go on.  The less aggressive of the group WANT a leader, someone to make the decisions for them.  But it also makes that leader unpopular because they can't please everyone.  
Many times the leader would rather just be a "part" of the team, but that isn't what the whole group needs.

Sorry to be so long, but I just think Bush gets a raw deal on this board.  And no matter who the Prez is, they have a very hard job to do and should get more respect for the decisions they have to make.  (and I didn't say support for those decisions or agreement).  

I just have a really hard time with comments like Chrissy Hinds' hoping "that Iraq wins, and gives us what we deserve".  I hope that she is never counted on to stand up to anyone to protect or support her family.

Take care,
Terrell