CONFRONTING BACKLASH STATES

Bucking a worldwide trend toward democracy, free markets and civilized conduct, ''backlash states'' pose a threat to U. S. interests and ide als. The United States must devise strategies to contain and eventuall y transform these rogue regimes. Iran and Iraq are particularly troubl esome since they not only defy nonproliferation efforts but border the vital Persian Gulf. Past attempts to build up Iran to counter Iraq an d vice versa have been disastrous. The policy of ''dual containment'' creates a favorable balance of power in the region by relying on Ameri ca's strengths and those of its allies, and it is already showing sign s of success.