Why Bush is the Worst President Ever: Volume 1

Why Bush Had To Lie To Invade Iraq

If removing sadistic dictators was an article of American foreign policy, we would have been in constant wars since the end of WWII. Asia, Africa, and South America spawned dozens of dictators who ruled by elimination of the opposition (literally) while enriching their families and friends.

So while agreeing that Saddam Hussein was a ruthless dictator, that alone would have never meant that the United States had the authority to depose or remove him. In fact the US had been his ally and gave him military support in the Iran - Iraq war of the 1980's.

The Britannica list of all Military dictatorships most accurately describes post-WWII dictatorships.

The following lists are probably incomplete, especially before World War II

Nations currently under military rule
Libya - on September 1, 1969, a group of military officers staged a coup, and are still in power
Mauritania — on August 3, 2005, the military staged a coup and declared a two year transitional military dictatorship
Myanmar (Burma) - military seized power in 1962.
Pakistan (President came to power in coup in 1999, but institutions of civil rule have gradually been re-instated)
Thailand - on September 19, 2006, the military staged a coup and seized power.

Nations with a legacy of military dictatorship(s)

In Africa
Algeria (1965-1994)
Burkina Faso (1966-1991)
Burundi (1966-1993)
Central African Republic (1966-1993)
Chad (1975-1991)
Congo-Brazzaville (1968-1992)
Congo-Kinshasa (1965-2001)
Equatorial Guinea (1968-1982)
Ethiopia (1974-1991)
Guinea (1984-1991)
Ghana (1966-1969; 1972-1979; 1981-1993)
Liberia (1980-1990)
Madagascar (1972-1975)
Mauritania (1978-1992) (2005-present)
Niger (1974-1989; 1996-1999)
Nigeria (1966-1979; 1983-1999)
Sierra Leone (1992-1996; 1997-1998)
Somalia (1969-1991; then local militia rule)
Sudan (1958-1964; 1969-2005)
Uganda (1962-1986)
The Gambia (1994-1997)

In the Americas
Argentina (1930-1932; 1943-1946; 1955-1958; 1966-1973; 1976-1983)
Bolivia (1964-1982)
Brazil (1930-1945; 1964-1985)
Chile (1973-1990)
Colombia (1953-1957)
Cuba (1933-1940, 1952-1959)
Dominican Republic (1844-1978 with a few exceptions)
Ecuador (1963-1966; 1972-1979)
El Salvador (1931-1992)
Guatemala (1931-1944; 1954-1986)
Haiti (1957-1990; 1991-1994)
Honduras (1963-1971; 1972-1982)
Nicaragua (1936-1979)
Panama (1968-1989)
Paraguay (1940-1948; 1949-1989)
Peru (1948-1956; 1968-1980)
Suriname (1980-1988)
Uruguay (1973-1985)
Venezuela (1952-1958)

In Asia
Bangladesh (1975-1979; 1982-1990)
Burma (1962-1988; 1990-Present)
China (1916-1927) (or 1920-1949)
Indonesia (1967-1998)
Iraq (1958-1968) and (1979-2003)
Pakistan (1958-1971; 1977-1988; 1999-2001 or present)
South Korea (1961-1979; 1980-1988)
Thailand (1938-1992)

In Europe
Commonwealth of England (1648-1659) Dated from Pride's Purge, the first major act the army took to control the Parliament to the abdication of Lord Protector of Richard Cromwell.
Greece (1967-1974)
Poland (1981-1983)
Portugal (1926-1933)
Romania under Ion Antonescu (1941-1944)
Spain (1923-1930; 1939-1975)
Turkey (1960-1961; 1980-1983)

If Bush was determined to declare war on Iraq he needed to fabricate a good reason because just saying Saddam's a bad guy wouldn't pass muster.