<If Saddam Hussein of Iraq is to be taken out, experts agree, much of the reaction in the Arab world and elsewhere could be mitigated if the operation were quick.

That, at least, is the apparent lesson of Afghanistan, where the rapidity with which the Taliban collapsed and the swift installation of a homegrown interim government seem to have muted the feared anger in Arab streets or opprobrium elsewhere in the world.



The anger in Arab streets may also have been muted by the graphic demonstration that the United States, if sufficiently pissed off, can go into a nation of supposedly unbeatable warriors and within weeks tear it a new asshole that you could easily drive a Mack truck through. All while losing one man to hostile action.

Just a theory.