Unintended Consequences in Iraq

I keep seeing this meme on Twitter and Facebook:

Imposing Democracy on Iraq led to the country's current sad state.

The unfortunate truth is that the "nation building" adventures of both Bush's, especially GW2, led to the current sad state of affairs in Iraq. Yes, Saddam Hussein was a mean, bad bully. But everyone except Iran was better off with Hussein in power. Iraq's Christians were better off, Israel was better off, and the United States was better off. Bush and Obama are both complete failures as Presidents. Bush was better in some short-term metrics, but they both stole liberties, abused power, and killed a whole lot of people that should not have been killed.

Actions have consequences, so, unless you are going to conquer and colonize, stay the <bleep> out of other people's countries. Let them make and solve their own problems¹; and for the love of the United States Constitution, don't bring them back here!

¹ Exception: If you personally want to go evangelize, undermine, or commercialize Iraq or anyplace else, help yourself. Ask me for a donation if you want. But not one dime of tax money and not one soldier, marine, airman, or sailor accompanies you or rescues you.