'Pottery Barn Rule' revisited

In the summer of 2002, according to Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward, then Secretary of State Colin Powell cited his famous "Pottery Barn rule" (you break it, you own it) when he warned President George W. Bush about the consequences of invading Iraq: "You are going to be the proud owner of 25 million people. You will own all their hopes, aspirations, and problems. You'll own it all." I think Powell's rule is still relevant and doubly applicable to Libya. The only difference is that Pottery Barn shopper Obama gets it (I hope) and helps explain his slow-walk toward military intervention.