The Zero Effect

Some Iraq hawks argued that removing Saddam from power would have the added benefit of intimidating other anti-American dictators and scaring them into becoming good international citizens. Muammar Gaddafi's renunciation of WMD was trumpeted as evidence of this claim. Now, I don't think the excitement that surrounded Gaddafi's announcement was unjustified (he had been seeking closer relations with the West before the Iraq war), but this news story makes it seems that Libya is even less of a poster child for bad regimes made good by the magic of Iraq Freedom:

Libya plotted to assassinate the de facto Saudi ruler, Crown Prince Abdullah, last year, according to an American Muslim activist.

US officials said last night they were investigating the claims of Abdurahman Alamoudi, who has been held on remand in Virginia since last September.

Both London and Washington have aggressively promoted Col Gaddafi's apparent change of heart as proof that the war on terrorism and firm action in Iraq was having a salutary effect on rogue states.