"The war in Iraq, has been a foolhardy adventure from the very beginning. It has cost us American lives, hundreds of billions of dollars and our international credibility and influence. We have depleted our capacity to respond to any other world crisis. We are certainly in no shape to militarily to convince Iran or North Korea to stop building nukes. "

There is no evidence that we have depleted our capacity- in any sense of the word. And if anything we are in a better position to "militarily convince" Iran or N Korea- not that this was or is ever a very good possiblity or likely course.

"I've said from the beginning that going to pre-emptive war in Iraq was bad policy and not in America's long term best interests. While the exercise in democracy is exhilarating, I am certain that the euphoria stateside will not last long as Sistani and Talabani buddy up with mullahs of Iran. "

You have been proven wrong from the beginning and this "euphoria stateside" you talking about in it's very nature will not last long- there would something seriously mentally wrong with us if it didn't. At the moment, Europe is taking advantage of the election results in Iraq by stepping up NATO type involvement and other governmental and business relations with Iraq. The terrorist attacks will continue, but these "forces" have definitely had a defeat due to the Iraq elections. And as far as Iraq-Iran relations, we of course, have an interest in seeing these relations improving- as well as Iraq's relations with all the other Arab countries- if we were "Old Europe" we wouldn't, but we aren't and never have been "Old Europe". Rather than the game of playing one power against another, we are interested in spreading democracy throughout the middle east and having these countries strengthening and improving their relations. World Peace can only be achieved when all the nations on the planet are democratic and united in respecting the values of human rights and freedom of speech.