reluctant allies

Tom Friedman, in today's New York Times (story here) worries that "because we have such reluctant allies in this Gulf War II, we must not appear as overanxious warriors. We still need a smoking gun to justify a war, if we expect to have any allied support".

True enough. But his premise is flawed. Our goal isn't to have allies. Our goal is to get rid of a constant threat. Let us never lose sight of the endgame, which is Saddam out of power, dead or alive, and us with some control over the next Iraqi regime. Most importantly, assured destruction of Saddam's WMD programs. Second but still quite important, first rights of refusal on the development and purchase of Iraqi oil.