Questions I don't like

I always remember someone asking me a question when i was a student.

Stalin industrialized Russia at a huge human cost but that helped crush the nazi, was the cost worth it.

I could never answer it... i still can't.... i don't like questions like that... it is too painful to consider....

Suddenly we are faced with a similar situation, not quite on the same scale but nevertheless a similar question....

Tonight i watched a program about the atrocities in Iraq, and the massacres that Saddam committed, yet look what we have now! People are being killed daily, which is worse? I really don't know. What I do know is that unless you can improve something you shouldn't intervene and the very least you should leave is an improved infrastructure. I remember when they entered Baghdad a colleague of mine pointed out the celebrating masses. I said I will hold up my hand and admit I was wrong with my criticism of the invasion in 5/10 or even twenty years if we have improved the situation for the people at the moment we haven't, we are failing them.