Putting words into peoples mouths again Ron - Really, I would have thought that by now you would know that that just does not work.

Example 1:
"...your wonderfully imaginative theory that Clinton made Bush invade Iraq."

Please quote me from any of my posts where I have ever stated that "Clinton made Bush invade Iraq".

Take a look at Clinton's speech of 17th February 1998. Does it identify Iraq/Saddam Hussein as a threat to the USA? - Yes, matter of record. Does it mention Iraqi WMD and the threat that they pose? - Yes, matter of record. Does it mention a potential link between Saddam's Iraq, Iraqi WMD weaponry and technology and terrorists? - Yes, matter of record. Also a matter of record Ron is that Clinton did not come up with this on his own - he was advised. Furthermore Ron if you check the names, you'll find that it was exactly the same people who advised George W Bush four years later. All of which blows rather a large hole in your contention:

"All of a sudden, Saddam is front and center for Bush."

Example 2:
"Why mention any person by name, if the only concern is your absurdly clumsy "asymetric attack". Unless by some chance he wanted to link Saddam to said "asymetric attack"."

My clumsy "a-symetric attack" Ron? Do you mean to tell us that this something that I "dreamt up"? That the Joint House Security Committee did not identify such a threat? That the combined Intelligence Agencies of the United States of America did not identify such a threat? Not only did both bodies identify and describe the threat Ron, they actually put a list of likely "rogue states" together in order of threat - Iraq was at the top of that list Ron. Flap about all you like, throw personal insults around all you like, attempt to air whatever sense of superiority you may feel that you have - none of that will alter the above statement of facts one iota.

Oh, and Ron, when somebody says "Before Sept 11, many in the world believed Saddam Hussein could be contained", it simply means exactly what it says. The events of 11th September are not referred to, the date is given as a watershed after which potential threats to the US have to be taken more seriously. Elementary english comprehension --Of which I thought you claimed some knowledge. Evidently not so.

Your question Ron: "What happened on Sept 11 to cause many in the world to believe that Saddam could no longer be contained?"

Has been answered - You just didn't like the answer.