" So Mr. Greenspan is saying we are now involved in a chaotic situation which will cost about 2 trillion dollars, many tens of thousands of lives and the respect of the rest of the world because Saddam would have "eventually" "attempted" to cut off the world's oil supply."

No...he is saying that he, (Greenspan), is admitting/agreeing that Saddam's 'probable' attempt would have been a justifiable reason to pre-empt him, NOT that it is the excuse that was used. [That's as close as I can come to Greenspan's convoluted, layered logic and explanation.] Greenspan also admits that he used to carefully spend several minutes saying almost nothing in rambling sentences to reporters, in order to obfuscate what was really being decided.

That's why I say that it is not a good idea to over-simplify what Greenspan 'seems' to have said and toss out boiled down synopses....as I have just done. *wry grin*

It is a big mess...and Bush obviously does NOT like Greenspan saying these things because it sounds like he is indicting Bush & Co. for all these motives which they are not about to admit to.