Yes, Saddam had to go. He was a fly in everyone's ointment.

Then, I'd have handed over power to some strong-man who owed his alligence, power and life to us, and moved to the Syrian border. While Baby Assad was doing his dance to preserve himself, I'd have been expanding our force structure to AT LEAST double what it is now, and curtailing domestic spending to pay for it (Actually, this would have begun during the invasion of Afghanistan).

When an "agreement" with Assad was reached, I'd have opened the dance with Iran by bombing them incessantly and continually until there was no stone left upon another.

Next? Turn to the rest of the world and say, "See that? You're next if you don't pony up every jihadist in your midst."

War over.