I'll chime in. :P
From a macro level, France, Russia, Germany, et al were involved with Iraq directly through Saddam's regime. This was their "in" for oil, arms and other business deals.
Saddam's regime is supported by a close inner circle with a periphery of citizens who are, shall we say "higher on the food chain".
Pretty basic, but I don't think many would argue with it.
I think that the majority of the Iraqi people will benefit from the removal of Saddam and many of them know it. They are gun shy from the last go around, but once it is apparent that Saddam is toast (if not already) they will turn on the oppressors that prospered at the hands of the dictatorship -- even if it is subtle and over time.
France, etc. will lose out not on regime change alone. They could well lose out with a free Iraqi people. Iraq is a sophisticated country, ripe for positive change (note: this does not equal cultural change).
War... It seems to me that most liberals are against it and most conservatives for it. Most of the debating I have read on Oprano is based on core ideological differences rather than specific circumstances. People mask their partisanship, but it is transparent for the most part.
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