We had an opportunity with Iran and blew it. However the United States has learned a lot since then. The key to extracting the Middle East from medieval barbarism is secular democracy. That approach worked in Turkey and can be reapplied to Iraq. It would have worked in Iran if the Shah's health had held out (he died after a long illness with cancer) or if President Carter (a man I respect despite his failings as a president) had a more pragmatic view towards Middle Eastern politics. The original article by Pramit Pal Chaudhuri describes what needs to be done. Establish democracy in Iraq and then use Iraq as a platrom for transforming it's neighbors, e.g. Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan and the Palestinian. This is the first step of a very long journey.

Gary