He was a State Senator running for US Senator. In May 2002, Obama commissioned a poll to assess his prospects in a 2004 U.S. Senate race. He created a campaign committee, began raising funds, and lined up political media consultant David Axelrod by August 2002. Obama formally announced his candidacy in January 2003.[126] Obama was an early opponent of the George W. Bush administration's 2003 invasion of Iraq.[127] On October 2, 2002, the day President Bush and Congress agreed on the joint resolution authorizing the Iraq War,[128] Obama addressed the first high-profile Chicago anti-Iraq War rally,[129] and spoke out against the war.[130] He addressed another anti-war rally in March 2003 and told the crowd "it's not too late" to stop the war.[131]
Nothing close to The Iraq debacle. ISIS was formed after Saddam was taken out,Saddam kept terrorist like Al Qaeda out of Iraq.Saddam was also a check on Iran.With The US military strained with 500,000 troops tied up in an unpopular Iraq war North Korea started and finished building nuclear weapons while Bush was president.