Whose fear? We've terrorised the population of Iraq since (at least) 1991, and we didn't want them to be fearful?
Right!
You REALLY DO have a problem with the idea that U.S. mideast policy might have an established plan 'B' that was ready to go... Perhaps more ready (and actualizable) than plan 'A' which required long term support from national governments and the people of those nations, like congress... and the American people.
IMHO, now all the policywonks think that we will just be able to go in and pick up the spoils of Iraq's civil was too, and of course, they'll be horribly, tragically wrong... But wishful thinking seems to be as endless as the 'America Dream[tm]'
Don't be simplistic... The people who plan these wars, make and promulgate these foreign policies, are VICIOUS CONNIVING TWO-FACED CRETINS... and always have been. Nice, simple people don't rise to the top of governmental power structures (or for that matter, any social structure currently operational)
Leigh www.leighm.net http://leighmdotnet.blogspot.com/