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Pollack, Kenneth M. The Threatening Storm: The Case for Invading Iraq. New York: Random House, 2002. 384pp. $25.95
The United States and its allies once more stand on the brink of war with Iraq. What makes this war different, however, is that its primary goal is to replace the dictatorial regime of Saddam Hussein with a democratic form of government. In the opinion of the Bush administration, removal of Saddam and his weapons of mass destruction will bring stability to the Middle East and the world. While there is consensus to remove Saddam and destroy his weapons, there is disagreement among the experts as to how to accomplish it. Kenneth Pollack is a specialist on Iraq whose experience as an analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Council gives him a unique vantage point from which to comment on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. In The Threatening Storm, Pollack posits that a U.S.-led invasion of Iraq is the only logical means to end Saddam's regime. This argument results from a thorough discussion of the rise of the current regime and of Iraq's relationships with its neighbors and the West, followed by a painstaking analysis of the several options available.
In the case of Iraq, says Pollack, our vital national interest, as well as that of the entire world, clearly lies in the economic stability of the region based on ability to export crude oil without interference. Following the...