The US, The UN and Iraq

Summary
The increasingly popular idea in Washington that the United States, by toppling Saddam Hussein, can rapidly democratize Iraq and unleash a democratic tsunami in the Middle East is a dangerous fantasy. The U.S. record of building democracy after invading other countries is mixed at best and the Bush administration's commitment to a massive reconstruction effort in Iraq is doubtful. The repercussions of an intervention in Iraq will be as likely to complicate the spread of democracy in the Middle East as promote it. The United States has an important role to play in fostering democracy in the region, but the task will be slow and difficult given the unpromising terrain and lack of U.S. leverage over key governments.

The real argument against war

The build-up to war on Iraq has been frustrating. The main reason: the debate has been an exercise in shadowboxing. Even supporters of the war know that the official rationale for war -- nukes, links with Al-Qaeda, disrespect for the UN -- is bogus. There is a powerful case -- involving the defense of Israel, security of oil supplies, and reform of the troublesome Middle East -- but mention of these is neither politic nor politically correct.

And the frustration with the quality of debate is only increased by the intellectual shambles of the anti-war movement. Read Julie Burchill, for a bloody dissection. For a stronger argument, here's Matthew Parris, yet another British columnist. I am not afraid the war will fail. I am afraid that it will succeed. I am afraid that it will prove to be the first in an indefinite series of American interventions. I am afraid that it is the beginning of a new empire...

The debate I would like to see: Hitchens, Reynolds and Wolfowitz v. Atrios, Henley and Parris.

A dove's guide: how to be an honest critic of the war [Matthew Parris via Reynolds]
Why we should go to war [Julie Burchill] #

Iraq hawks are troubled by the failure of some Americans to fall in line behind President Bush after Wednesday's impressive performance by Colin Powell. Now that Powell has so clearly shown that Iraq has illegal weapons, they ask, how could anyone argue for continuing United Nations weapons inspections, rather than just fast forwarding to war? Actually, it's not as hard as you'd think.