I think Saddam could have been taken with far fewer American lives being lost and less civilian bloodshed through diplomatic/military means. I'm not talking about the sanctions either. The time for sanctions was passed, it was an idea that worked some but cost much more. A different type of diplomacy was needed, one where Saddam removed not by brute force but by atrophy.
Emancipate the Kurdish People of Northern Iraq declare the Northern territory a free republic, and set up a democratic government there. Expand Kuwait. Seize his assets, seize the southern oil fields, open production and create a relief fund for the Iraqi People, to supply food and medicine (basically remove Saddam from the oil for food equation) build up the nation. Keep chipping away at his land. Get the UN and other world organizations to no longer recognize Saddam as the leader of Iraq. Finally declare a new interim Iraqi Capitol in Umm Qsar, and build it into the Hong Kong of the Middle East, hold free elections without Saddam on the ballot and open the boarders of the new Iraq and put the refugees not in camps but in jobs after screening. Make it a joint venture of the American, British, German, Russian, Japanese and Arab Nations to create a free market city of the world economy all of them sharing in the risk and rewards, but none as much as the Iraqi People. That would be Liberation.
And yes Saddam would have been forced to make a move militarily, but defending against such a move would have been easier militarily, diplomatically, and politically. The likelihood is strong that the insurgence would have surfaced anyway, but they would have joined the Iraqi forces. We would have been able to build up the infrastructure, and economy quickly with out nearly the devastation had we captured bits and pieces of the country. Offering work at a European or American salary at desalinization plants, refineries, farms, docks, construction companies and government agencies in northern and southern territories would have won the hearts and minds of probably more than just the Iraqis. Take Umm Qsar and turn it into an example of democracy and capitalism and you transform the region. The Iraqi people would have over thrown Saddam, and the world would be better for it.