Saddam's strategy is to goad the U.S. into repeated reprisals which would give the impression that all the U.S. cares about is punishment. "The more the U.S. bites, the more Saddam can then use the U.S. attacks to rouse domestic and international sympathy to lobby against the sanctions that are hurting his country," says Dowell. For now, Saddam appears to have hit upon an effective strategy. The question for U.S. officials is whether they can come up with a valid counter-strategy. Until they do, expect more clashes -- and more American frustration.