Saddam has to go

The flaw in U.S. policy towards Iraq has been the gulf between the goal of unseating Saddam Hussein, and concrete action to make it happen.

That gap has been narrowed by a policy revealed by U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. She has said for the first time that the U.S. intent is to see Mr. Hussein out and that the United States will not relinquish the economic sanctions binding Iraq until he is replaced.

Anti-Saddam circles have craved this development for a long time. Now U.S. policy is explicit. This makes a difference.

UN sanctions against Iraq have been in place for five years now and have failed to bring about his ousting by an internal coup or by other means.

This failure has led to a "sanctions fatigue" that gnaws on countries especially hurt by the sanctions (Turkey, Jordan) and helps trade-hungry Europeans argue that sanctions are ineffective.

Many people have been troubled to see the heavy impact that sanctions have had on hapless civilians -- thanks to Mr. Saddam's own efforts. He has arranged for images of suffering children to be regularly screened on Iraqi television.

The United States move to pursue not only Iraq's compliance UN resolutions but also Saddam Hussein's departure is a bold step in a world of fragile nation-states.

But the United States is not careering around the world looking for independent-minded regimes to topple. Saddam Hussein is an unrepentant and dangerous aggressor. There have been other suggestions to indict him for war crimes and to encourage his lieutenants to mutiny by pleading with them. Another good idea.

-- The Washington Post