SincetheendofthewarinAfghanistan,theUnitedStateshasbeenintenselymakingpreparationsformilitaryactionstooverthrowthe"Saddamregime."Thoughthereexistedbigdifferencesbetweenthepro-warfactionsandpro-peacefactionsintheUnitedNations,U.S.PresidentGeorgeW.Bushvowedthathiscountry"wouldtakemilitaryactionsagainstlraqasplannedeveniftheUNSecurityCouncilfailstopassU.S.motiontotoppletheSaddamregimebyforce."ThistellsusthatthesecondPersianGulfWarwasinevitable.AndpeoplewouldnaturallyconnectinmindthiswarwiththefirstPersianGulfWarin1991.WhatisthedifferencebetweenthetwoGulfwars?Whatfollow-upmovewouldWashingtontakeafterthesecondGulfwar?WhatimpactwouldthewarexertonthepoliticalstructureoftheMiddleEast?Andwhat’stheprospectofrelationsamongthebigpowers,especiallyamongtheUnitedStates,theEuropeannations,RussiaandChina?Tofindanswerstothesequestions,weinvitedProfessorWangZaibangandsixofhiscolleaguestohaveapaneldiscussioninearlyMarch.ItshouldbementionedthatContemporaryInternationalRelationsheldadiscussionofsimilarkindintheNo.10issue,2002.Thisdiscussioncanbeseenasafollow-uptothelastone.Wehopeitwouldbetterourreaders’understandingofhowtheChineseviewthisissueofpublicattention.
