The United States stands on the brink of entering into a military campaign aimed at regime change in Iraq.

Sadly, public opinion seems to be turning against the Bush administration and the war effort.

A recent USA Today poll showed that only a slight majority of Americans still support justice.

This is even more astounding considering that in the same poll 93 percent of those sampled said they believe Saddam Hussein is developing biological or atomic weapons. Why are we willing to wait until he uses them on us?

The announcement of an attack on Iraq is one of the first good ideas in our flawed Middle East policy. Optimally, this attack should have come sooner after Sept. 11, but now will do.

Liberal war opponents insist that such action will start a cycle of retaliatory attacks. This is not true.

We already are trapped in this cycle. Terrorists bomb U.S. military barracks in Saudi Arabia. No reaction. Terrorists bomb U.S. embassies in Africa. No reaction. Get the picture?

We gave Iraq a chance a decade ago when we allowed Saddam to stay around.

Since then he has violated cease-fire agreements and dodged weapons inspectors.

Iraq’s actual potential for nuclear and biological weapons is real. The time for negotiation is over.

Our ongoing war on terrorism can only pursue terrorists hiding in caves for so long. It’s like treating the symptoms of a disease without going after the cause.

In this case, the sickness is Middle East regimes that support and foster terrorist activity.

Yes, I did say regimes. Because after we get through with Iraq, it’s time to move onto Iran, the country that’s won the distinction of being described by the State Department as “the most active sponsor of terrorism” for the past couple of years.

The list of its terrorist involvement is long.

Further, Saudi Arabia, our so-called “ally,” needs to be reorganized. Nearly all of the hijackers of Sept. 11 were Saudi, and they don’t seem to be our friends. The only reason we’re polite is because we need their oil, and they know it.

The news media also are reporting that no other country supports us. This is of no consequence.

First, we are the most powerful nation on the earth. Other governments may not support us and may put up a stink, but ultimately they will come crawling back.

Second, remember whose towers collapsed. Other countries don’t have the motivation the United States does. We were singled out as the enemy. The United States should not be deterred because it won’t be joined.

The bottom line is this. We can strike at the governments that are responsible for terrorism.

Unfortunately, America is rapidly slipping back into Sept. 10 apathy. At some point America needs to wake up and stay awake.

All Americans should enthusiastically and patriotically support an attack on Iraq.

In this situation, overreaction is not a risk. How many times does Sept. 11 have to happen before we learn our lesson?