WI: Gore wins in 2000

[Xachiavelli]

It's reasonable to assume that with Gore in power, 9/11 would still happen, it was already very much in the pipeline before the 2000 elections. In theory, it could be butterflied away but it would be random, not because of Gore perse. However, let's say it happens.

The invasion of Afghanistan will likely still go ahead, as Gore can't be seen to simply be letting them get away with that, however, Iraq is greatly unlikely without Cheney pulling the strings.

So with no Iraq invasion, Saddam stays in power. My question is this: how does he fare in the Arab Spring? I'm assuming he'll either end up like Assad or Gaddafi. However, as in OTL, Russia and China will allow a maximum of one bombing campaign (Abstained on Libya, yet vetoed Syria). So if the US goes after Saddam first, it will likely be a Libya-like situation with airstrikes and such as opposed to a boots-on-the-ground invasion. Then Saddam is toppled after however long, and the US turns to most likely Gaddafi and get hit with a Russian and/or Chinese veto, which probably means Khamis commands the 2nd Battle of Benghazi, leading to a regime victory followed by a sweep East, the war officially ends with the Battle of Tobruk, yet protests continue to this day.
If the US goes for Gaddafi first, it pretty much goes as OTL, then they turn to Saddam and get hit with the aforementioned veto.

Whether or not there are any no-fly zones, bombing campaigns or whatever greatly depends on who wins in 2008 though. We know Obama would do it, Hillary Clinton definitely would, Mitt Romney would, John McCain would, Ron Paul wouldn't, John Edwards probably wouldn't. However, i have no idea who would have won then.

One effect Saddam staying in power for longer would have on the world is a lessened threat from Iran, as the two pretty much balanced each other out.