We will have ended a tyrancy and given Iraqis a chance to build a democracy and share the wealth of a well endowed country. 80% of Americans will consider it a success without finding WMD according to a recent poll. My guess is that all the stuff we've found makes most people believe Bush's team did have good reason to believe Iraq had WMD even if we don't find it and that he was not intentionally misleading the public.

Bush will be in fine shape domestically, but foreign relations may be tough for some time. That will be the tough part. France and US relations may suffer for quite awhile and most Americans will not care one bit. Testy relations with Russia will continue with the US having demonstratable reason for a lack of trust. Inter-European relations will also be in a mess, France will have lost much trust and influence. France loosing out is fine, but loss of inter-European cooperation is probably not. How France looks to its local opartners may well depend on whether or not WMD are found. I think their influence will wane greatly if they are found and wane slightly for some time if they are not due simply to their conduct. Could be wrong there though since popular opinion seems to be opposite of government stances.

Regards,
Mark