Some thoughts from exactly a year before the war began:
defeating Iraq should be militarily easy. Kenneth Adelman, a former assistant to Donald Rumsfeld, predicts that a war against Iraqis will be a "cakewalk," and offers four reasons: "1) It was a cakewalk last time; 2) they've become much weaker; 3) we've become much stronger; and 4) now we're playing for keeps."
Assuming Adelman is right, U.S. forces acting solo can take control of Iraq without needing the U.N. seal of approval, European troops, Saudi money or Turkish bases. The task would be easier with a little help from friends, but it is not necessary. (March 19, 2003)
