"Casualties under Saddam were estimated to be 300k to 500k."
So Jantimot, do you care about them?
You see, we are supposed to be a caring democratic society here in the West. Unlike many here, I do believe "we" generally have the right intentions - certainly better intentions than the religious nutjobs or the dictators in the Middle East (so there is a problem). You mention Iran - perfect example, the people are nice, but their leaders are repressing them. No worries, let's turn a blind eye and there will be no problems - btw, WE just approved Iran to take the final step toward Nuclear weapons - heaven help us - leave them alone you say?
Back to the 300k to 500k killed by Saddam, or whatever the number of people, thanks to our modern society, everyone has connectivity to everyone else, even those respressed civilians living under religios nutjobs or dictators. To expect those poor plebs to as you put it "stew in their own juice" is just not going to happen. And if it does, the pimple will eventually burst anyway and the plebs will either flood out, or simply be annihilated. I cannot see the modern world watch and wait for this to happen - over and over again...
...but the pussyfooting around approach that we have taken in the past is no solution either.