While Sessions did mention other justifications for the invasion, his language (”But for most of us…”) and his vocal emphasis indicate to me that he trying to convey a real conviction and importance in these words.

But for most of us I think it was a strategic American decision based on a fundamental question, were we going to give up, were we going to let the embargo collapse, and would Saddam Hussein be able to continue to say, and actually say with conviction and some honesty, that he had won the 1991 Gulf War. He said he won the war.

I tried to indicate in the quote some of the emphasis that his voice gave to the words.

I don’t want to make too much of it either. That’s why I didn’t mention it here earlier. I eventually posted it because enough people were talking about it that I thought others would have interest in knowing about it.

But I understand people’s interest. Yes, Sessions mentioned reasons for invading Iraq like Hussein not complying with resolutions, breaking an embargo, weapons of mass destruction, but then he set those aside by saying “But for most of us…” and then introduced a previously unheard reason that would strike many people as somewhat small-minded.

To be honest, more than anything, I thought it was really odd.