HOWEVER questionable the motivations and the legality of the war in Iraq, the biggest criticism of the US-led coalition is that it has never shown it has a clue about how it might win the peace.

Yesterday was another shocking day, as the Americans piled into a mosque with a helicopter gunship. They used a sledgehammer to crack a nut and cannot be surprised that ordinary Iraqis are angry that 40 worshippers have been killed.

Somehow the US has managed to turn a country that was genuinely joyful at the fall of Saddam a year ago into one that is now teetering on the brink of civil war.

Its cack-handed tactics that have brought this about have been on display with this week's handling of the extremist cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. He had little support until the US - the home of free speech - tried to shut his little newspaper. All of a sudden he was a martyr, created by the Americans.

Again yesterday a US general promised that "deliberate, precise and powerful" operations would "destroy" al-Sadr's militia. This appears to be recklessly aggressive language, particularly when backed up by a deliberately imprecise offensive with a helicopter gunship that has killed 40 worshippers.

But we shouldn't get things out of perspective. The countryside of Iraq is moderately peaceful. Schools and markets operate. Local elections are being held.

Yet the US is rushing headlong to its date of June 30 when it will hand over to an Iraqi interim government, which will pave the way for democracy.

But the interim government will require military support if it is not to dissolve into civil war. At the moment, that military support will come from the Americans - so, to the average urban Iraqi, very little will appear to have changed.

Unless, of course, George Bush can find a dose of humility. Unless he can admit to the United Nations that things haven't gone to plan and that he needs some help. And that he is prepared to pay for it by offering those countries that send troops some lucrative reconstruction contracts.

As ever, if Iraq is to have a peaceful future, the UN will have to lead it forward.