NEW DELHI, 24 March 2003 — The US, backed by its awesome fighting machine, will win the war in Iraq but American diplomacy and image that have taken a beating will take a long time to regain the trust of other nations, Indian analysts say.

Foreign policy experts say the US had blotted its global standing and even damaged its relations with its long-time Western allies by going to war without the mandate of the UN Security Council.

They said the conflict this time was different from the 1991 Gulf War, which was brought about by Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait.

“There was no justification for the attack on Kuwait. As a result, Iraq was internationally isolated. The war against Iraq then also had the approval of the UN Security Council,” noted former Prime Minister I.K. Gujral.

“This time the US and Britain had no justification for launching a war, particularly since the weapons inspection (by UN inspectors) had not been completed. This time it is these two countries (US and Britain) which are internationally isolated,” he said.

Added a former envoy to the US: “It is definitely a setback to US diplomacy whether the US achievements from the war are clearly established or not.”

He referred to the worldwide protest demonstrations against the war and noted that the anger was directed against the US.

“It is a clear indication that the US has failed to convince a majority of the nations of the reasons for the war. And that is a failure of diplomacy,” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

He also noted the US had not even been able to convince its NATO allies, leave alone other countries, about the justification for the war.

Concurred K.V. Rajan, a former secretary in the External Affairs Ministry who now heads a think tank, Observers Research Foundation: “It is obvious that some miscalculation was there on the part of the US when they went into this. But it all depends on what turn the developments take.”