WASHINGTON -- With the conflict in Afghanistan drawing to a close, the question arises: where next? Iraq is a tempting target, but the U.S. and its allies should focus on eradicating what remains of the al-Qaeda terrorist network.
Were Iraq a participant in the Sept. 11 attacks, it would deserve the same treatment as meted out against Afghanistan. Complicity in the anthrax mailings in the U.S. would be another justification. Yet despite ongoing efforts by America's Defense Department to document some connection, there seems to be no convincing evidence of Iraqi involvement in either case.
Thus, the case for attacking Iraq is no different after Sept. 11 than before -- there's no hurry to attack now.