Thus while it may be possible for the US to stay ahead of the curve. We will have to be ever vigilant. And possibly excercise an ever increasing amount of control over such states.
I agree, the real solution is to replace the despots with economic/political systems based on personal property right, free markets and representative goverment, a tall order but necessary to win the war on terror.
The rela hope of Operation Iraqi Freedom is to spark a revolution in the Middle East and convince the Chinese to curb the PRNK or have to deal with a Neuclar Taiwan and Japan.
A "tall order" indeed. Take Iraq for example. The wealth of Iraq is in the oil below. No one has property rights on this land. It always has, and always will belong to the Iraq government. So, from the very onset, of any new Iraq government, no matter what the form, it will be Facists in nature, since the government will own most all the wealth producing property. The corruption will start immediately, with the criminals, opportunists, and power mongers rising to the top of any new government. Saddam came to power this way. The vicious cycle will start all over again.
How the hell do we ever teach these people the concept of property rights and free enterprise? I suggest we never will until all the oil is pumped dry, and they are left with no other choice but to go to work to make a living instead of fighting over their oil money.