In years to come, I see Iraq becoming one of America's closest democratic allies:

In a pointed address delivered with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on hand, Hoshyar Zebari said the United Nations had failed to stand up to Saddam to defend the Iraqi people, and called for a swift UN return to the country.

"One year ago, the Security Council was divided between those who wanted to appease Saddam Hussein and those who wanted to hold him accountable," Zebari told the 15-nation council, which was sharply divided over the war.

"The UN as an organisation failed to help rescue the Iraqi people from a murderous tyranny of 35 years," he said. "The UN must not fail the Iraqi people again."

He's got an inkling as to who truly cares about freedom and human rights. And assuming Mr. Zebari's opinion is shared by at least part of Iraq's current leadership, the country may eventually - and correctly - decide that the United Nations isn't worth petitioning for assistance or support. If so, will France, Germany, the left, and the Democratic Party accuse Iraq of unilateralism?