The future, if impartially written, will certainly show George W. Bush to be the worst President this country has ever known. If for no other reason than his horrifying debacle in Iraq. In every way possible, the Bush Administration has failed, much to the dying misery of thousands of men, women, and children. The United States of America is a pariah on the world stage due exclusively to George W. Bush and his ilk.
What is interesting about Iraq is how little the Bush Administration seems to know about it. You would think that intelligent, reasonable, even cunning, people would study the country they are invading. You would think that they would plan their attack, and their post-attack policies on the indiosyncracies of that particular part of the world. They didn't.
Iraq is a construct. That is, it is not a homogenous country. It was created after World War I by the British as a means of carving up the Ottoman Empire. In this single spot of land, the British herded Sunni's, Shi'ites, and Kurds. These groups have hated each other for centuries. They then gave all the power to the minority group of the three, the Sunni's. This decesion was not held in high favor by the Kurds and Shi'ites. They hated it in fact.
In order to old this desparate country together, a brutal tyrant was required. They found one in Saddam. Only his iron fist and brutual rule could keep this nation in one piece.
Alas, the Bush Administration decided that Saddam had to go. Go he did. Immediately after the initial invasion, Paul Bremer, the new US Govenor of Iraq, then dismissed the entire Iraq Army. If there ever was a chance of holding this place together, it would have been with the assistance of this army. Without it, the place fell into chaos. Now we are engaged in a vicious guerrilla war that has, in fact, led to potential civil war.
A ‘beacon of democracy’ for Iraq? It’s a recipe for civil war,
Ian McWhirter, Great Britain, has written an excellent piece for The Herald.
"...Mr President, what did my son die for?" That was the question put by bereaved mother Cindy Sheehan, during her vigil outside George W Bush's ranch. Well, now we know.
Casey Sheehan, and 1850 American soldiers died so that Islamic fundamentalists, who loathe the west and all it stands for, could turn Iraq (or most of it) into a theocratic state based on an almost medieval reading of the Koran.
Leaked extracts from the draft constitution say that "it is not permitted to legislate anything which conflicts with the principles and rules of Islam". In other words, women will not be allowed to divorce, give evidence in court, hold investments or expose their heads in public. Homosexuality can be punished by death. Thieves can have their hands removed. That's Sharia law..."
Iran is licking its chops over what the Bush Administration, in their blind incompetence, has provided.
"..The international terrorist cadres should be immensely grateful to Britain (and George W. Bush). We've done their job for them. By destroying Saddam's secular dictatorship and then handing power over to the Mullahs, we have aided the creation of the second Islamic state in the Middle East.
A beacon of hate for terrorists throughout the Islamic world. Job well done!.."
But wait! Iraq has written a new Constitution that George has assured us will make everything ok!
"the constitution looks more like a recipe for civil war than the foundation of a stable democratic state. The Kurds in the north want nothing of the Shias in the south and are demanding the return of the oil-rich region of Kirkuk. They are prepared to sign a compromise document, but only if they can keep their own army, autonomy and freedom from religious tyranny.
"...Why did we blunder our way into this country, killing at least 25,000 civilians and destroying most of the economy, only to end up with a Frankenstein stitched together out of ethnic body parts which cannot and will not cohere?.."
Why indeed. The United STates of American, and all of its citizens will look back on this period of time and shudder with guilt and embarrassment. I hope that it will teach out citizenry to question their leaders. To demand clear, honest, and responsible answers. I hope that this country will learn that war is never the answer. But, I don't hold out much hope.
No comments:
Post a Comment