Such a prolonged war might seriously destabilize the fledgling democracies of the region, born out of the collapse of Communism a decade ago.

This is needed, the logic goes, because as military pressure builds in Colombia, the war could spill over and destabilize the region.

Otherwise, a war could destabilize the region and "turbo-charge the recruitment process for anti-American terrorism," as one Saudi official put it privately.

Many fear that such a war could drag in Somalia's neighbors and destabilize the entire region.

All sides in the debate over the revolution accept that the war served to heighten discontent, intensify social conflict and destabilize the political regime.

The war will destabilize the volatile region and turn Iraq into a de facto United States protectorate for years.

Some people worried that a war could further destabilize the stock market, but others countered that past wars had resuscitated the economy.

Democrats have suggested that the war in Iraq actually destabilized the Mideast by making that country a source of terrorism.

"I think war will destabilize the region for years at endless cost."

A war could also set back Iraq's oil production and destabilize other oil-producing states.