Bush's "Credibility Fixation" on Iraq
   You know Washington is sinking into quicksand whenever you start
   hearing that the U.S. should go through with its militaristic plans
   because if it doesn't, we would lose credibility.
   I hadn't heard that hoary rationalization since the darkest days of
   Vietnam, but there it was again, in the mouth of James Schlesinger, the
   former CIA Director, Secretary of Defense, and Secretary of Energy and
   all around grand-poohbah of the Washington establishment.
   Here's what he told The New York Times: "Given all we have said as a
   leading world power about the necessity of regime change in Iraq . . .
   our credibility would be badly damaged if that regime change did not
   take place."
   Of all the reasons to go to war against Iraq, that's the worst possible
   one. That's like saying, "OK, it may be a stupid idea, but since we've
   said it so many times, we've got to do it."
   [1]http://www.progressive.org/webex/wx073102.html
   Before Rumsfeld and Bush go off half-cocked, let's assess the
   short-term rationality of this planned invasion.
   First of all, it would be against international law, since Iraq has not
   attacked the United States and is not imminently preparing to do so.
   Second, it would be against the U.S. Constitution for Bush to do this
   without a declaration of war from Congress.
   Third, it would mess up our relations with our allies, and further
   enrage the Muslim world, which is the last thing the United States
   needs right now.
   Fourth, it could wreak havoc with our economy, which is already wobbly
   enough.
   And fifth and foremost, it could kill tens of thousands of people, many
   of them innocent civilians

References

   1. http://www.progressive.org/webex/wx073102.html