"So for instance, if the administration started to build a case for invading Iran or Syria, that Americans would not be less inclined to permit it? I think you are wrong, and I hope I don't have the opportunity to prove it. (maybe I should hope for the opportunity to prove it -- and before November '04 would be most beneficial!)"

The war with Iraq has nothing to do with our "willingness" to invade Iran or Syria. We never have had a willingness to invade any country. Syria happens to have been a strong ally on War against Terrorism. And we probably will be getting better relations with Iran [not that we are favorable to the regime, but Iran probably wants to work towards improving their relations with the rest of the world]. The only possiblity of invading Syria or Iran is if they provoke a war by interfering with our efforts to form a democratic Iraq. If we knew the State (opposed to separate groups within the country) were involved with doing this, it would be serious but we wouldn't "invade", though some form of "counterattack" would be an option.

" The warm reception the president recently gave U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan was a step toward reconciliation."

Why? When have we had any problems with Kofi Annan? He has provided consistently good leadership for the UN. And when he has had the power to act, he has even taken some political risks to assist the coalition in Iraq.

"It's pretty clear that a lot of countries in the world will not provide troops to help our efforts until they receive a UN blessing. Whether this is more true now, is hard to prove one way or the other. Again: we will have to wait for our next adventure to find out for sure."

This is not something Kofi Annan can control, it's dependent on members of the security council and getting resolutions passed. It might be possibly for the UN Secretary to interfere with this process in some way, but Kofi Annan hasn't, nor would it make much sense for any UN Secretary to do this in almost any imaginable circumstance.

"In one respect, I think this is jumping the gun. We will have to wait a number of years to determine whether history will judge our efforts a wild success (like the Marshall plan) or an utter failure (like Viet Nam)."

Iraq ain't going to be a "Mashall plan". There will probably be more aid to Afghanistan, than to Iraq. And the African countries are probably more likely to see something resembling a Mashall plan, than either Iraq or Afghanistan.