Administration officials insisted today that their focus now was to deter Iraq from mounting a new invasion and to defend against such an attack if it should occur.

The Pentagon officials acknowledged that the retaliatory strikes had not deterred Iraq from firing on the allied planes.

But the official said the gulf nations later saw the request as a sign that the Washington was committed to assembling a large military presence in the region to deter Iraq.

But deterrence worked, and America surely has the power to deter Iraq as well.

Britain reacted strongly to Iraq's claim and sent troops to Kuwait to deter Iraq.

And the United States would undoubtedly provide them with arms necessary to deter Iraq.

Meanwhile, the same editorial warned against invading Iraq on the grounds that "there may be no way to deter Iraq from using unconventional weapons against American forces.

That sure sounds like an effort to deter Iraq.

Whatever tactic is used, there may be no way to deter Iraq from using unconventional weapons against American forces.

Whether they are doing so to deter Iraq, or whether they mean it - and, if so, what would it take to provoke Israel into action - are open questions.