When I met with Yitzhak Shamir on April 9 [1991] to discuss the peace process, he was quite concerned that despite a great victory, Saddam was alive and still in control. “It’s not a good lesson for the area,” Shamir told me. “Such a man, if you could call him a man, who’s cost us so many losses, who has dared to attack us with missiles, is a man that we can’t live with. I think everything in the region will be temporary until this fact changes.” I responded that all our Arab coalition partners believed that Saddam would be ousted by a coup within six to eight months.Well, I won't keep you in suspense - it was James Baker. You know, Mr. "Fuck the Jews - they don't vote for us anyway." Mr. Baker, is that crystal ball of yours under warranty?
(via Matt Welch)
UPDATE: Tal G links to an article about how the first Bush administration decided to leave Saddam in power.
The first meeting, which took place between Cheney and Powell, was intended to prepare the proposal given to then-president George Bush. Powell, who essentially controlled the conversation, proposed an immediate end to the war once Kuwait was liberated from Iraqi occupation. Cheney wasn't satisfied with that, and asked Powell to offer alternatives to show the president. Although he asked Powell a number of times, those present noticed that the secretary of state did not respond, but only reiterated his sole proposal - to immediately end the attack. The two then went to Bush, and the final decision was made, against the recommendations of the field commander, Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, who was on the ground.
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