We have 3 major threats to the weapons control regime: countries that illegally obtained nuclear weapons (Pakistan, India, North Korea), countries that are on the verge of obtaining nuclear warheads (Iraq), and countries that are seeking to acquire nuclear weapons (Iran, Syria, Libya).

India and Pakistan left the door open for everybody else. When the world did not take action, instead deciding theirs was a singular incident (and balanced), it undermined every nonproliferation agreement ever signed. Now that North Korea has gone nuclear (sort of), there really isn't much we can do to stop them, except appeasement, which does not work. Iraq is at the last stage before obtaining a full-fledged arsenal. The other countries can still be dealt with under the table, since there is no immediate hurry, assuming we keep the accords intact. However, if we don't stop Iraq and North Korea, expect half a dozen other countries to follow their example in the next few years, and the rest of the world shortly thereafter.

Letting Iraq be will dismantle these agreements. There will still be a deterant, but not enough to stop the Taliban or Iranians. If we stop Iraq (peaceably or forcibly) but leave North Korea with their weapons, then that just shows the world that they will be fine if they just don't get caught until they already have their weapons. If we stop both of them, we leave everything intact until the next crisis in a few years.

Part of this crisis was manufactured by Iraq by failing to comply with UN resolutions. However, they had been slowed down to a crawl by embargoes. Without GWB making a big deal out of it, Iraq would not have been a problem for another decade under sanctions, or 5 years or so without. The other part was created by North Korea as a way to get concessions and money from the rest of the world. If we pay them enough, they'll leave us alone for another year or so, until they ask for another handout, and so on, indefinately.

I'm angry at GWB, angry because he took a situation that did not need a war, and has done his damnedist into creating one where war is the only solution.