What is the closest historical analog to what is happening in Iraq?

As Mighty Girl points out, we went into Iraq because of WMD’s (which could strike UK bases in 45 minutes).
‘Regime change’ would have been illegal. :rolleyes:
There were no WMDs. :eek:

Therfore there is one clear parallel with Vietnam - the Gulf of Tonkin:

‘The Gulf of Tonkin Incident was an alleged pair of attacks – the second of which did not occur – by North Vietnamese gunboats on two American destroyers…’