EXTEND THE ANALYSIS:

Fallen Giant: What does Saddam's capture mean for Iraq? (Fred Kaplan, Dec. 14, 2003, Slate)

Whoever the insurgents are, whatever their goals or allegiances, they have been abetted by the fear of ordinary Iraqis that the Americans might be driven out, that Saddam might return to power, and that he would punish those who helped the occupiers in his absence.

They have been completely reasonable in this fear. Saddam has been the dominating force in their lives for 30 years, surviving every assault.

Now he is definitively gone. The foundation of fear is shattered.

The fear of the Iraqis was the hope of the French and Germans, who've already conceded the debt issue with his fall. That'll be an enormous boost to Shi'ite Iraq.

Posted by Orrin Judd at December 16, 2003 8:44 PM