Is there no evil lesson we failed to learn from Saddam?

First of all, we lied (more than once) (more than twice) and used our lies to justifiy a premptive attack on a sovereign nation (1). Just like Saddam (2). Of course, our war criminals are still at large - feted, even - whereas Saddam and his cohorts have met some sort of justice.

We used barbaric weapons that killed civilians (even unborn children) and combatants indiscriminately (3). Just like Saddam (4). And our wonder weapons have the added bonus of poisoning children not even conceived at the time of the war, through radioactive poisoning.

We kidnap and imprison people we suspected of being our enemies (5). Just like Saddam (6). We use torture. And more torture. And more torture (7). And we - allegedly, mind - resorted to the sexual humiliation and degradation of suspects break their spirit (8). Saddam Hussien had rooms where female prisoners were raped by guards and regime thugs (9). And we do that to (10).

More and more, I am struggling to see the difference between us and them.

1 - 'Report: No WMD stockpiles in Iraq,' unattributed report published on CNN.com, on the 7th of October, 2004. (http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/10/06/iraq.wmd.report/). And not forgetting the Nigerian Yellowcake fiasco, "White House Admits WMD Error," by Lauren Johnson, published by CBS News on the 8th of July, 2005. (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/07/09/iraq/main562312.shtml). ANd, of course, the 'Dodgy dossier', as described previously on lefthandpalm: http://lefthandpalm.blogspot.com/2008/02/draft-dodgy-dossier-online.html
2 - 'The Oilfield Lying Below the Iraq-Kuwait Disput,' by Thomas C. Hayes, published in the New York Times, 3rd of September, 1990. (http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE3D7173CF930A3575AC0A966958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print)
3 - As described previously on lefthandpalm: http://lefthandpalm.blogspot.com/2008/08/birth-defects-real-surge-in-iraq.html
4 - '1988: Thousands die in Halabja gas attack,' unattributed BBC report, date of original publication uncertain. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/16/newsid_4304000/4304853.stm)
5 - 'Terror Suspect Alleges Torture,' by Dana Priest and Dan Eggen, published in The Washington Post on the 6th of January, 2005. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51726-2005Jan5.html)
6 - Courtesy of zfacts.com, viewed on 13th of February, 2009. (http://zfacts.com/p/571.html)
7 - 'CIA's Harsh Interrogation Techniques Described,' by Brian Ross and Richard Esposito, published by ABC News, 18th of November, 2005. (http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/Investigation/story?id=1322866). Second link is to 'Waiting for the Guards,' a short film made as part of Amnesty International's 'Unsubscribe Me' campaign, showing a real (i.e. unfaked, real pain) recreation of an actor holding a stress position. Linked 13th February, 2009. (http://www.unsubscribe-me.org/waitingfortheguards.php?)Third link relates to Binyam Mohamed, described previously on lefthandpalm: http://lefthandpalm.blogspot.com/2008/08/this-is-why-we-are-hated-and-this-is.html
8 - 'Female FBI officer 'tortured Mumbai terror attacks suspect with sex',' by Ben Leach, published in The Telegraph, 12th of February, 2009. (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/4587941/Female-FBI-officer-tortured-Mumbai-terror-attacks-suspect-with-sex.html)
9 - 'This dictator will continue to haunt Iraq' by Robert Fisk, published in The Independent, 16th of December, 2003. (http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-this-dictator-will-continue-to-haunt-iraq-576749.html)
10 - 'The Other Prisoners,' by Luke Harding, published in The Guardian, 20th of May, 2004. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/may/20/iraq.gender)