Other than Mossadegh in Iran in '53, we may have supported the "existing" governments in the area, but we didn't tell them what to do politically, we didn't put them into power. We haven't told the Saudis what to do, what their politics ought to be. Egypt's the only Arab government, we've given loads of money to.
If we can set up a better situation for the ordinary Iraqi, yes they'll think well of the US.
They already attack us and sponsor terrorism, up to now, there's been no cost for that. Now, the leaders are going to start paying the price.
Interesting- we condemned Fujimora in Peru for petty corruption and demanded his ouster even though he was elected but at the same time we were utterly silent when the military took over in Algeria becasue radical islamicists won the election. We support the dictaorship in Pakistan when they staged a coup of a demcratically elected government, in Yemen, and the corrupt elites of Eygpt and the Saudi kleptocracy is our best buddy according to Bush. We can hardly be seen as a force for "freedom" in that region with such a record. In fact I would seethe with rage if I were an Pakistanni radical whenever I heard the US bleep on about "democracy" and "freedom".
I have no doubt that if we were to invade Iraq it would be a cake walk. It would over in two weeks. And then we would even be treated to pictures of Iraqis kissing our boys in the streets on CNN. Then what? How long are we going to be there? How long before the shiites go after the ruling Sunnis? How long before terrorism and guerilla activity starts? It is already happening in Afghanistan now. And after Ira q then what? Are we going to take over an entire civilization of a billion people and trty to make them good little democrats like we did the germans and the Japanese?