SIGNS THAT SCOWCROFT WAS RIGHT

We should not underestimate the importance of the liberation of the Iraqi people in our look at the situation, but let's not get carried away in the red, white and blue euphoria just yet. The quick draining of the jubilation of liberation in Iraq has about concluded and the beginning of the hard part has begun. Iraqi's are already resentful of our presence and want us out. Who really thinks that Iraq - even long after water, electricity, police forces etc are provided - will be electing pro-American governments? Brent Scowcroft was excoriated by the neo-conservatives when he suggested that this was the case before the war. Just as we planned for potential use of chem/bio/nuke weapons in planning for the Iraq operation, we need to be planning to have in the future a democratically elected "friend" in Iraq that makes the current Saudi regime look like our best buddies.