We had a thread about this a while back so there is little point in going over old ground. News sure would be boring if it was not slanted in a particular direction. Sometimes the only way to get a story out is to use the media. Armed Forces are late in the day realising the power of the media. I believe the media was directly responsible for getting A400M DAS and inerting systems. That was agenda setting and a good example of how effective it can be.
On the subject of Saddam. he was pretty well under control in recent years. Unfortunately for Iraqis more of them are being killed now than at any time in Saddam's murderous history. I never get taken in by politicos talk about dictators. How is it we did a deal with Gaddafi but invaded Iraq? CIA were big buds with Saddam whilst it suited. All this may be old ground, but what if we had not invaded? We could have the UN camped out in Iraq looking after Iraqi peoples, a deal with oil in place and gradually made it better. Dictators like being in power, Saddam's ability to carry out appalling crimes was getting more and more limited. By invading we made a classic mistake. Best way to overthrow a Govt is to do it from within that way you win the consensus of the people. This process could already have been started in Iran if Bush had done a deal with the previous president. He didn't now we have a nightmare scenario.
Change happens organically over a longer period of time than elected offcials, Presidents and Prime Ministers hold office. They only think in 4/5 year cycles as a result they have f****d everything up for a very long time. Iran was heading for democracy now they are heading for war.
Sorry for blahing on