Evil Tyrants who wish to kill me; seeing how so far NOBODY has found ANY link to Saddam; and the fact Saddam has never ever threatened violence on Australia I don't think he wanted to kill me. However, there is a growing groundswell of Islamic fundamentalists (I will add they make up a microscopic minority) in Australia, about once a fortnight there is a news headline of another terror plot thwarted. The latest was this guy who stole rocket launchers from the army who was going to blow up Australia's only nuclear reactor. I started working in Sydney CBD 6 weeks after the London Bombings; I didn't feel safe. I commend the NSW Police, Australian Federal Police and ASIO for preventing bloodshed on Australia's shores. Also of note are MI5/6, FBI and CIA etc. well done lads! On the other hand I condem Bush, Howard, Blair and Co. for misdirecting our resources so grossly - if the $$$ spent on Iraq (over a quarter of a trillion to date) was spent on counterterrorism at home, then I'd say we be a hell of a lot safer. The war on terror will never be won overseas. They are won at home. And, In australia, we (so far) are winning.
As for making the world safer, since Saddam was taken out there have been Madrid Bombings, London Bombings, plus many other Islamic fundamentalist attacks about the place. Here is a thought; more Iraqi civilians have died in US invasion of Iraq than have died in Arab-based attacks in the west....
What would be my plan for Iraq and middle east? It would be based on equality, fairness and peace.
1. Democracy will never work in Iraq. It is a civil war. We ain't doing anything constructive there, so let's get out. Have a go at getting the UN blue berets/NATO to control it, if they want to. It is no longer about oil, or WMDs, it is a humanitarian crisis. This worked in the Balkans. If it don't work, let it go.... current Western involvement is a WOFTAM. Cease ALL military action in Iraq. Who knows, once we leave, they might get bored and instead of suicidal bombings they may start to create reality shows
2. Seriously, noone in the middle east is threatening the west. The atren't going to invade greece, or even kazakhstan. All foreign forces should leave the middle east. It will mean that in the very unlikely event of a nuclear attack the west is more exposed, but, a nuclear strike has had over 60 yrs to happen, noone will be nuking anybody.
3. All western countries should cease biased and unequitable support of israel. It can defend for itself. Imagine you are a 12 y.o. Palestinian boy, and you see an Israeli chopper blow the crap out of your house, killing your little sister and mother. You find out the fact that that chopper is an american apache, bought with american funding. In a place where violence is a way of life, what are you going to do? The US gives billions to Israel for economic development and defence. The Palestinian people were kicked out of their lands; many became refugees. The Palestinians, along with their buddies, tried to destroy Israel on 3 different occasions. Between the 2nd and 3rd go, some refugees formed the PFLP, PLO and other organisations that have in the past done terrorist activities. Having studied the Arab-Israeli in senior high in great detail, the Palestinian cause for sovereignity is much more worthy than the Isreali cause for the 'promised land'.
Why these 3 ideas? Well, they address the 3 main reasons why Osama did 9/11: Attacks on Iraq, US forces stationed in the middle east, and unquestioned support for israel. Now If you take away the reasons for attacking, and they attack, they will look pretty stupid, and would lose whatever credibility they have left.
Yes, this does go against the general tactic of negotiating with terrorists; but as comedian Robin Williams once said "if an 800 pound gorilla has you by the nipples, you listen!"