Today's International Relations Comment

I have nothing to add about what's going on in Iraq except to say that I think there's a lot of self-deception going on among Americans who (a) think we're somehow getting even for 9/11 and (b) it doesn't matter if other countries think the U.S. is ruthless and imperialistic so long as they fear us.  I think they're wrong on both counts, but a lot of people seem to love the notion that their country is beating up on a bad guy, and they don't want even a drop of rain to fall on that parade.  When the Victory Celebrations begin, we're going to see a lot of Americans called traitors and Saddam-lovers for suggesting that there are any possible downsides to what has gone on.  Let's hope there aren't any.  I'm not as sure as they're all going to be.