If Not Us Then Who? Another Option To Consider

One of the arguments cited by opponents of US military action against Iraq is that such action would destabilize the region. If we were to act unilaterally without support from a broad coalition of countries we would run the risk of alienating our "allies" in the Middle East and further antagonizing countries that already dislike us. Or so the logic goes.

But what kind of stability can be expected if no action is taken? According to German intelligence sources Iraq will have the ability to produce nuclear weapons by 2005. Does anyone honestly believe that Israel will sit idly by while a neighboring dictator who has promised the destruction of the Jewish state acquires such devastating weapons?

In 1982 the Israelis were able to set the Iraqi nuclear program back a number of years with a precise air strike against an Iraqi reactor about to come on line. This time around the job would not be quite so easy. Iraqi nuclear facilities are camouflaged and scattered around the country. An Israeli attempt to eliminate the Iraqi nuclear capability may take several days before they feel secure that the threat is neutralized. It may even require the Israelis to deploy tactical nuclear weapons of their own against Iraq. The fallout from such attacks would dramatically increase the likelihood of a much wider war breaking out. US "allies" in the region including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan would feel immense pressure from the Arab world and their own peoples to aid the Iraqis and countries with regimes traditionally hostile to Israel such as Syria and Iran may take the opportunity to join Iraq.

The US would then be in the difficult position of having to support Israel(the only true ally in the region) while trying to avoid a complete estrangement with our erstwhile Arab "allies". The damages done to our relationships with Arab countries and our image in the region would be nearly irreparable and a wider conflict could devastate the Middle East killing many thousands and shattering it economically.

If we don't go in Israel will. Which option has the better chance of bringing real stability to the region?