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Public record CIA fact book, Foreign Policy, Foreign Affairs Quarterly, Jane's Quarterly, numerous think tank publications all acknowledge Iran and Saudi as being more culpable than Iraq in support of terror. Iran and Saudi are off limits to ground war for a number of real-politik reasons. Iraq was do-able and our actions were quasi-legal due to the UN resolutions, a unique factor.

The Neo-con bible (and I am in agreement with the philosophy) calls for a sea-change in the ME as the only way to ensure peace for coming generations. The map had to change. We had to have a base from which to impact the region without asking permission or undergoing a six month build-up. In essence, we needed Iraq. 9.11 provided the public pretext but Wolfowitz (whom I have met a few times) and company were never reticent about it even before the attacks.

Iran will not be invaded. Bush told them twice...get your act together (revolt) and we will stand with you. Syria is playing a game with us in Lebanon but the rules have changed now that there are US Marines on their Eastern border. NK is a PacRim problem, not a US problem. China, Japan, Taiwan, ROK all have a greater stake in that game than we do.

My only fear about the Neo policy is that we will not have achieved enough before somebody new lives at 1600.