Though it’s debatable whether Iraq is the nation’s biggest threat, several ISU political science professors agree Iraq is being targeted.

ISU professors said they suspect President Bush is using the threat of war on Iraq as an attempt to deter other countries from possible conflicts.

Joel Moses, professor of political science, said the Bush administration seems to be using Iraq as an example in deterrence for other countries who pose a threat, due to nuclear proliferation. “[Bush’s goal in war] is to prevent Iraq’s production of weapons and deter other countries from [producing weapons],” Moses said.

He said he does not think this will work because those other countries, and non-state organizations like al-Qaida, don’t rationalize in the same way Americans do.

Moses said there are several countries, including North Korea, India, Iran and Pakistan, that could pose a threat to the United States due to their production of nuclear weapons.

Professor James McCormick, chairman of the political science department, agrees. “Certainly, if Saddam Hussein is disarmed, that sends a signal to other states about the intentions and determination of the U.S. to stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction,” McCormick said.

Bush administration officials said the United States would allow Saddam to escape war crimes prosecution if he would voluntarily step down from his leadership position.

ISU professors said recent discoveries of empty warheads in Iraq could prompt a war.

A dozen empty chemical warheads, not listed in Iraq’s chemical possessions declaration, were found southwest of Baghdad by U.N. officials last week. “Whether these warheads did contain chemicals or not doesn’t seem to be a factor,” Moses said. “I think the administration is looking for an excuse for war right now.”

McCormick said although finding the warheads was a large discovery, it may not be prominent enough to spur a war. “I think the [Bush] administration has said that the discovery of these warheads was troubling and show Iraq’s lack of cooperation with the inspections regime,” he said.

Moses said he believes the United States would conquer Iraq in a potential war.

“There’s no question we can defeat Iraq in a war, but it’s the consequences after,” he said.

Moses said the United States would need cooperation from other countries after a possible war. “Unless the U.S. makes a point to stay [in Iraq] for 10 to 15 years and help rebuild the economy, it leads to a possibility of large regional wars [with other countries],” he said.

Moses said peace rallies this weekend were not overly effective because of the severity of Saddam’s actions. “Even those who are reluctant about going to war, including myself, know [Saddam] is pretty bad,” he said.

McCormick said he believes the rallies were a positive outlet for American frustration about the war. “I think the peace rallies indicate that there is a deep concern about the United States initiating war,” he said.

— The Washington Post contributed to this story.