Re: A failed plan...
I originally posted this elsewhere but it seems appropriate.
No-one has mentioned Saddam's diplomacy - he got France, Germany, and Russia on his side, simply by bribing them (those trade contracts). His diplomats have successfully fostered disention.
Both the French and the Germans thought there would be no down-side to opposing the US. Already we are seeing boycotts of French goods and reduced tourism; America is looking to move military bases out of Germany. Who knows, they may find new homes in Iraq?
As for the world's sympathy, it seems to me that that rapidly turned into, "How much can we squeeze from the US?" Turkey being the most glaring example.
This is actually a great victory for Bush and diplomacy. People have forgotten that diplomacy means nothing if you cannot back up what you say. I'll also cite von Clausvitz, who said that war is an extension of diplomacy. There's an old adage Si pacem vis, pare bellum (If you want peace, prepare for war) which is oh so true.
Just as after Britain regained the Falklands, the world listened to Britain, and begat the fall of the Soviet Union; so now will nations take more notice of the US. In recent years the US has shown considerable weakness by not responding seriously enough to events like the first bombing of the WTC, the events in Somalia, the attack on the USS Cole, etc. That will now change, and America will be the better for it.
