We certainly got the attention of the "Arab Street", not to mention citizens and world leaders across the globe.
Thomas Friedman had an interesting column in the NY Times today which encapsulates neatly the effect this war is having on the "Arab street."
For decades now, it has been more important for Arab "pride" to "stand up against the American Satan" than to live under democratic popular rule and enjoy the fruits of modern progress. That is, "Arab pride" would rather live under oppression in impoverished societies than allow modern Western thought, morals, and living standards to prevail in SW Asia.
Friedman writes that the Arab street is going thru a tremendous upheaval of self-examination following the Lightning Iraq War.
I don't often agree with Friedman, but I do agree with his column today. He says that if we can help nurture an open and free representative society in Iraq, it could be THE major turning point for the entire region. Of course, that's what President Dubya has been thinking all along.
Michael