These two articles are two good reasons why the Bush administration should have worked harder to secure U.N. support and participation in the war. A truly international force in Iraq, including direct involvement by other Arab nations, would have lent credibility to our continuing presence there during what will be a long, difficult and expensive period of reconstruction. Fewer American lives would be at risk and the cost to American taxpayers would be significantly less.

Mr. Bush made a terrific mistake by basing his case for war upon Iraq's mythological weapons of mass destruction and trumped up claims of Iraqi ties to Al Qaeda. In doing so, all he has done is make it harder the next time the United States needs to call upon the community of nations to unseat a cruel despot or support the war against terror. And, any time Iraqi citizens experience difficulties during the tenuous period of reconstruction, they will be quick to blame and lash out against the U.S.

Of course, we can't turn back the clock now. We're stuck. And, we're obligated to finish the job we started. Not doing so will only make things much worse. What we must do from here is internationalize the reconstruction effort, even if that means working with the U.N. It also means we need to spend more money, and perhaps even deploy more troops (hopefully of other nationalities).