I'm also in a bit of a gray area on the apparently inevitable Gulf War II.  I don't wholly support it, but I think we made a mistake in not deposing Saddam in 1991 too.  But with the saber rattling coming from North Korea, perhaps this is not the time to pursue Iraq.  Plus I have a certain resentment for the oil companies' decision to hike gas prices by about $0.40 in the last 6 months, before a war has even begun.  It seems a little convenient at a time when due to the economy, almost nothing else could justify increased prices (and profits for them) besides a war.

I agree with your assessment that we got ourselves into the mess with Al-Queda/bin Laden by supporting them at first, when they were leading the opposition to Russia's invasion of Afghanistan in the 80s.  However, I thought I should point out Bin Laden apparently did not decide to oppose the U.S. until the Gulf War made him decide that he should do so in protest of the Saudi government's dependence on and support of the U.S. military.  North's testimony was 4 years earlier, and although he mentioned a terrorist at that time, it was not one associated with Bin Laden or Al-Queda, but rather a Libyan.

Here's the story in more detail.

Ken