US warns its enemies to ‘learn lessons from Iraq’

AS thousands of Iraqis took to the streets to celebrate the fall of Saddam Hussein, the United States was already sabre rattling in the next phase of its war on so-called rogue nations.

As the giant statue of Saddam fell in central Baghdad, in a potent symbol of regime change, US foreign policy hawks warned America's enemies to "learn lessons from Iraq".

Iraq's UN Ambassador Mohammed al-Douri conceded defeat last night: "The game is over," he said in New York. "Let peace prevail."