ABSTRACT
Iraq's current regime presents unambiguous security threats to the other states of the Gulf and to the West. While Iran's regime may offer some hope for constructive engagement, Iraq is virtually certain to be a revanchist and aggressive state as long as Saddam Hussein is in power. In spite of continuing discoveries that Iraq has lied to the UN about its holdings of weapons of mass destruction, a combination of legitimate humanitarian concerns and Iraq's oil wealth and economic potential make it doubtful that a sanctions policy can remain in force for more than a few more years. No amount of analysis can resolve the problems and provide easy answers to choosing the right strategy towards Iraq. Certain analysis can help the policy-maker find the proper balance between efforts to contain Iraq and efforts to ease the plight of the Iraqi people, and to evaluate the potential for change within the Iraqi regime and Iraqi politics.
