It's difficult to write a topical song about a specific historical matter without lapsing into certain forms of literary awkwardness. Compare the protest material of Phil Ochs (most of it) to that of Bob Dylan and you'll see what I mean. Songs with universal images (like Dylan's) generally have far more power for me than songs that are overly specific. Accordingly, I find your lyrics a bit hard to chew on in places, although I agree with your sentiments. The original chorus is great. Simplify the song. Mary has already helped with that.

The irony of the war is that Saddam did not ever threaten the USA in any meaningful way, nor could he. He lacked any such capability. He was unable even to defeat Iran with the quiet backing of the USA back in the 1980's. No, he did not threaten the USA. The USA threatened him, surrounded him, invaded and occupied his country. It was not really about Saddam, but he made a good poster boy against whom to rally the American public and troops. They conduct politics in the USA like it was a TV drama...Gunsmoke or Charlie's Angels or something like that. Gotta have a bad guy to hunt down and some stuff to "blow up real good". It's so simplistic that it's laughable.

- LH