[Steve Eisenberg]

I suspect that about ten minutes after Iraq is freed by America, so that these people can go home, they will have forgotten about the sacrifices made.

Well, if, as rumored, the State Department largely turns over the country to UN bureaucrats, Iraqis may have a little justification for this. (Hold the flames, I said A LITTLE justification.)

They will turn 180 degrees against America, and denounce her for supporting "the zionist entitiy" blah, blah, blah.

Really it is hard to predict. 45 degrees seems a better prediction. I don't see why they should be less pro-American than Kuwait. As for Israel, from what I have read, the Iraqi National Congress is split on whether to cultivate Israel as an ally or adversary. Most likely, policy towards America and, especially, Israel, would be a perennial focus for political struggle in a Democratic Iraq, but I don't think hard core anti-Americanism would return.

I would be all for imposing on Iraq a democratic constitution with certain no-nos written in. This worked with Japan, but I doubt that today's America has the self-confidence to do this. We should do it, and Iraqis would on balance be greatful that we saved their polity from constant internal political struggle over whether to be hostile towards the US and/or Israel.

[JoeSchem]

My guess is that a post-Saddam government would be cool toward Israel but not overtly hostile. It doesn't really matter. Without weapons of mass destruction, without harboring terrorist organizations, Iraq won't be a threat to Israel's national security. Doesn't mean they'll be friends, just that they won't be at each other's throats.