Iraqi Opposition says Saddam is very weak

Bush consulting with allies on Iraq

Cheney rallies Iraqi opposition

US insists that the new Iraqi government be democratic

Lots of news on increasing coordination between the US and the Iraqi opposition in exile. That’s a very good thing. No need to rush into the war until Iraqi allies are ready to lend as much assistance as possible on the ground during the war, and in forming a democratic post-Saddam government afterwards. And even if they’re not the Iraqi equivalent of the Afghan Northern Alliance, contrary to many media reports Iraqi contributions to the war to overthrow Saddam would be more than trivial. Among the Kurds alone for instance there are 30,000 soldiers ready to join the fight. Many other Iraqis in exile have secret contacts within the Iraqi government and the Republican Guard. Many Iraqi soldiers will be ready to defect - but only if the US and the Iraqi allies are firmly committed to go all the way and remove Saddam Hussein from power.

We all know the war is coming. Despite the baffling inability of many in Europe and elsewhere to understand the sheer insanity of allowing a monster like Saddam Hussein to acquire WMD, especially nuclear, it's inevitable. The biggest danger for the US is that Saddam realizes that it may be to his advantage to provoke the fighting before we're ready. Look for Saddam to do something crazy, like start launching missiles at Israel, months before the US is prepared to attack. That could really mess up the plans.