November 10, 1998

MEMORANDUM TO: OPINION LEADERS

FROM: GARY SCHMITT

SUBJECT: Iraq

The New York Times reported today that the Clinton Administration was “leaning toward using force against Iraq sooner rather than later.” In this connection, I want to draw your attention to this week’s Weekly Standard editorial (“How to Attack Iraq”), written by Project Director Robert Kagan. Its core point: it’s time “to complete the unfinished business of the 1991 Gulf War and get rid of Saddam.” No other strategy ultimately makes sense.

The danger is that the administration will strike Iraq militarily and then adopt a policy of deterrence, leaving Saddam in place to develop weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them. Pledges to confront Saddam for future misbehavior will increasingly ring hollow once we confront an Iraq armed with weapons that threaten mass casualties among troops and friends in the region.