Iraq is an opportunity, not merely a problem. The basic U.S. strategic goal in the Middle East is to disable the anti-Americanism that sustains dangerous terrorism. Sometimes, that anti-Americanism is popular outrage, which, over time, can be eroded by better propaganda, free markets, and reasonably democratic polities. But those hostile feelings don't much matter unless harnessed by terrorist groups and hostile states, and more importantly, they can't be soothed until we contain those anti-American terrorist groups and states. Terrorist groups, by themselves and without the protection of states, can be crushed by old-fashioned police work, diplomatic pressure, economic tools, ...
