Originally Posted by AlienQ

Because Iraq was weak.
Iran was going to topple Iraq.

It was also possible a Nuclear arms race would develop between Iraq and Iran.
One of them countries will not have nukes now and hopefully with the next presidency neither of them will have an arm's race or war.

If you pay attention to history Iran and Iraq were at war constantly.

Saudi's needed a cushion, Saudi's are America's "friend" therefore it made perfect sense at the time to take out Iraq. Iraq has the largest oil reserves in the world it would make little sense to put it in the hands of Iranians or have it sit there as Iraq continued defending itself from Iranian invasion and Iranian funded terrorism.

Pretty simple if you ask me.