Most catalogue the gross underestimation of the objecting forces in Iraq and the many mistakes made by Americans top to bottom. Most note that had leaders listened to their subordinates they would not have made the mistakes they did.

In the long sweep of history it conceivably may be concluded by historians that removing the responsibility of Iraqis themselves to remove their charismatic and ruthless Stalinesque ruler from "ruling them" was evolutionarily positive. It might also not be so concluded. But what is certain is that leadership in the two most powerful English-speaking countries was hubristic -- bravadoic is the attitudinal face I think best describes the alpha males who botched the execution of what, presumably, was begun with good intent but exaggerated self-assessed competence.