They say history is written by the winners. Proof of this old adage has been beamed straight into our living rooms courtesy television. On the streets of Baghdad, the very people who till the other day could be seen cheering Saddam Hussein-perhaps more in fear than affection-can now be seen pulling down his statues, smiling at the American soldiers who have just "liberated" them. Already the French and other European governments that opposed the invasion of Iraq have begun speaking a softer language. The UN, virtually irrelevant in recent weeks, now wants to be at the forefront of rebuilding.

WAR FOR PEACE: Nelson in Iraq

This is our fourth successive cover story on Iraq. Not since late 2001, when we ran nine of 10 consecutive cover stories on the "War on Terror", has a foreign issue so engrossed us. Given terrorism and geography, India had a stake in the Afghan conflict. Iraq offers no direct impact. Yet the American triumph this past week could go down as one of the most far-reaching events of all time.

For one, it establishes that the domination of the world order by the US is complete. Many had predicted a long and bitter war, house-to-house fighting, a last stand by Saddam's elite Republican Guards. None of that happened and several myths were exploded. Washington's ability to effect regime change is now unquestioned. The question is: Where will it stop? After Iraq, who's next?

There are other fears too. In Iraq, looting has followed "liberation". After decades of dictatorship, what are the prospects of Iraq's transition to a functioning democracy? Our exhaustive cover story deals with all these issues. As contributor Craig Nelson-who was in Baghdad through the war and filed exclusive stories for us-points out, "To most Iraqis, the immediate test of America's credentials will lie in its ability to restore law and order and distribute humanitarian aid speedily and fairly."

President George W. Bush had justified the war by saying it was being fought to make the world a safer place. This would be negated if he now walks away leaving Iraq in a mess. Winning the war was easy. Winning the peace is the real challenge.