IRAQ! Is America running for cover?
Pam Bhandari, Indiadaily corresponent on International politics
IRAQ! Is America running for cover?
Pam Bhandari, Indiadaily corresponent on International politics
What really happened to Iraq? The coalition is on the retreat after hostage taking and massive exchange of firepower. Saddam is gone. So what is the problem? The problem may be that US just not have enough conventional armed forces that can fight in Iraq. Some of the US top generals have openly said that they are getting thinned out. Even if that is the case, it should never have been said. Because, it will only make the terrorists and anti-US forces more confident. The problem started with shutting down the Al-Sadr’s newspaper. Al-Sadr is a shiate cleric and sort of a competitor to Cistani another Shiate cleric. Al-Sadr’s newspaper was shut down by US Administration since it was insisting Iraqis to attack the US forces. In the mean time Sunnis and Shiites joined hands and decided to jointly attack the US forces and their sympathizers. US for the first time faced an enemy in Iraq who cannot be bought with dollars through Special Forces. These guys are bad even compared to Saddam. Recently Al-Sadr’s announced his demands. He wants Saddam tried, a date occupation ends and his followers freed. The fight in Falujah ended in loss of life of Coalition forces and Iraqis. The operation is on a cease fire and US has agreed to sit down and discuss things with the other side. US’s biggest problem is that it wants to create a perception in the world and in US that it is out of Iraq by June 30. However, it is not easy. US is realizing that there can be a power vacuum in place and real bad people can snatch power in the doldrums. The Iraqi governing council consists of people like Ahmed Shalabi who is not only unpopular in Iraq but also wanted in Jordon for white-collar crime. US is also realizing that Iraq is full of “Saddams” and many worse than him. It is important for the whole world that US does not leave Iraq without securing true democracy in Iraq. Otherwise, Iraq may end up in another Taliban type state governed by extremists and can become a true epicenter of terrorism.