PRIOR to the war in Iraq, people harboured illusions about the behaviour and intentions of the Iraqi government under Saddam Hussein.

Nonetheless, President Bush's rushed initiative tragically undermines the theory of a just war and will lead to a proliferation of war and other acts of aggression.

Already this prediction is beginning to unfold. Buoyed by their apparent success in Iraq, the US is now issuing subtle threats against Syria, Iran and other so-called rogue regimes like Sudan and Libya.

While the Iraqi people have been freed from the oppression of Saddam Hussein they continue to suffer, now at the hands of US expropriation.

It is, for example, no secret how America's formidable military machine was able to quickly seize control of all the Iraqi oil wells and the Ministry of Oil Building in Baghdad but were unable to protect -- despite being forewarned -- the irreplaceable heritage of a proud Iraqi people housed in the Iraq National Museum.

Adding to the growing consensus of US dominance in the region is the reluctance on the part of the US to allow the United Nations to take the lead in rebuilding Iraq.

To counteract such suspicions the US will likely establish a legitimate government in the weeks ahead that will attempt to conceal in the world's eyes the reality of an American military presence.

The Arab nations however are bracing themselves. Due to growing anti-American sentiment extremist groups are said to be regaining strength.

Do other nations really want the US to be the world's lone enforcer? Is this not a time to revisit the concept of a Just War?

PAUL KOKOSKI, Columbia Drive, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.