Reuel Marc Gerecht responds to

Reuel Marc Gerecht responds to the argument that a war with Iraq would compromise America’s war on terrorism. Gerecht argues that the war will not impair our ability to obtain European assistance in countering terrorists because the Europeans understand that they too are the targets of Al Qaeda and thus have a strong interest in cooperating with us. The Europeans might like to make a behind-the-scenes deal with Al Qaeda, but they realize that this is impossible. As to Middle Eastern cooperation, Gerecht contends that it will actually increase with a victory over Iraq. Fear of the American power is what motivates whatever cooperation we get from the dictators in this region. Defeating Iraq will increase that fear. Not fighting Iraq would demonstrate that there is no reason to cooperate with us and, indeed, nothing to fear from cooperating with Al Qaeda.