AMERICAN ships and aircraft launched another wave of cruise missiles at southern Iraq early today in an attempt to stop Saddam Hussein's latest move against the Kurds.

Both sides are claiming success, and with some justification.

President Bill Clinton, with one eye firmly fixed on the November elections, has done exactly what most Americans expected and wanted him to do.

But Saddam Hussein is also congratulating himself today on driving a wedge between the Gulf War allies of 1991.

Only Britain has fully backed the American action.

The Middle East countries, who gave such crucial support in 1991, have distanced themselves from the latest attacks and even many European nations, including France, have refused to back the Americans.

Saddam has also gained a valuable foothold in northern Iraq.

His tanks and guns may have pulled back, but his henchmen are thick on the ground in and around Arbil and other Kurdish towns and villages. Where is it all going to end?

One thing is certain. As long as Saddam remains head of state there will be no satisfactory solution. That area of the Middle East will remain a tinder box.

Saddam is an out and out thug. There is no doubt that the Gulf War allies should have continued their advance in 1991 and thrown him out of his Baghdad lair.

Many lives would have been saved and the people of Iraq would have been spared the miserable existence they lead today.

As long as he is in power Saddam will continue to tweak the tail of the Western allies.

His latest mischief has been made more simple by the Kurds themselves.

It seems inconceivable that one Kurdish faction could welcome the Butcher of Baghdad as an ally only years after his forces were killing their people with chemical weapons. They have made life difficult for the Western allies, committed to protecting them from further atrocities.

They have also played right into Saddam's hands. He can now say he is in northern Iraq by invitation!

One thing is certain. Saddam is a survivor, albeit courtesy of the Allies' reluctance to finish him off when they had the opportunity.

And he will continue to weave his web of mischief.

Possibly some of his near neighbours, such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Turkey are privately applauding the American missile attacks. They have more to lose than most.

And we cannot believe they are prepared to sit back and watch this megalomaniac resume his evil attempts to expand his territory.

For that is what Saddam craves. He believes he can rule the Middle East.

And that is why it is sad to see so many of the former Gulf War allies adopt such a wimpish stance.

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