The coup would call for boldness instead of bigness, stealth instead of slugfest, and a weedkiller approach to intelligence instead of the lawn and garden variety that Congress seems to favor most of the time. It would, in short, require the attributes of a real great power and not a tech-nerd pretender to power. U.S. and British air and missile strikes against Iraq beginning December 17 will doubtless cause considerable damage to that country's military infrastructure and other targets. Unless and until he is effectively removed from power, stalemate will mark his relations with the outside world, including the UN and its weapons inspectors. What can be done about this aspect of the problem, if anything, is neither risk free nor uncontroversial.
Tough times call for tough decisions.
In the aftermath of such a daring raid, Saddam Hussein would have two effective choices. He could stay in hiding in order to avoid capture. If he takes the first option, continued hiding, he loses effective control. If he stands up to be counted, an air to ground missile with his name on it arrives at his doorstep. Either way, once he has lost access to central communications and once the top of his command structure has been neutralized, he is out of business.