Syed Javed Hussain
Reacting to the assessments of General Petraeus, ambassador RyanCrocke, crooked and partial to official lines though they were, Bush haspromised to withdraw US forces from Iraq starting from Dec. this year. Nothing, however, is expected to change.
With law and order situation deteriorating to the extreme, the presence of US forces, which will again come down only to the pre-surge level, is sure to dwindle further the uncertain and volatile situation in Iraq. Bush, however, does seem determined to ignore any other option on Iraq until military victory has been achieved first.
The Nation that prided in her destiny, cultural and historical richness and her tryst with prime human glories has been turned into a simmering cauldron of inhumanity by George W Bush in cahoots with his erstwhile colleague from Britain, its chatterbox Prime Minister.
Who else can be blamed? The country was invaded whereas the whole world cried hoarse against doing it. They have claimed laurels in removing Saddam Hussain whose despotic rule was just marginally different from that of other dictators in his neighbourhood.
Bush did not have any justification to wage war against Iraq albeit his
support rather active backings had kept other dictators of the region in their seats since long. This was done with an acute sense of
misappropriation and duplicity. The self styled leaders of the free world, failed to recognise the beauty, serenity and balance of the society despite the incongruity of Iraq’s political system that was kept in place with the active support of Mr. Bush and other so called leaders of the free world.
The world of Islam is under tremendous pressure: from within and
without. Osama Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda is the product of the so called free world. They were recipient of the US aid when Afghan’s were fighting against Russian occupation.
Then the US needed these religious fanatics, and they earned great
ovation and respect from the US policy makers and Ronald Reagan called them “the moral equivalent of the founding fathers.”
After the departure of Russia, the influence of these extremists could not be curtailed. They sided with Taliban and kicked out all other political factions from the political scene of Afghanistan. The US abandoned them in the middle of their stride and never tried , through any channel, to modify or redefine their role as a nation building force.
They remained revolutionaries and then in an acute desperation they
struck America resulting in the loss of hundreds of thousands innocent lives in New York, Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon and occupied Palestine.
The string of extremism in the lands of Islam generated, abetted rather actively sustained and supported by these leaders of the so-called free world have caused tremendous damage to Islam, its institutions, integrity and vitality. Suffering from their own ‘Frankenstein Monster’ George W Bush and Tony Blair crossed all ethical, moral and legal boundaries and did to the innocent citizens of the lands of Islam what Al-Qaeda had done to them.
Iraq has been turned into a dilemma for the Muslim world. Al Qaeda has joined hand with insurgency against foreign occupation because their objectives meet in hurting the US. A dominant majority in the land of Islam does not want Al-Qaeda in Iraq to succeed in bleeding the US out of Iraq.
Nor does it want the US and British troops to gain foothold in Iraq and thereby destabilise the whole region. No Muslim wants Iraq, the second country housing the third holiest place in Islam, under foreign occupation. It is a catch 22 situation. Day by day they US presence is aggravating the situation in Iraq and whenever, the US would leave, the situation would be bloodier behind. Sooner it leaves the better.
Iraqis are good enough to take care of themselves. With the help of
regional states Iraq will overcome all of its difficulties along with Al-
Qaeda. Since 2003 the US has proved its inability to handle Iraq,
therefore, the US leaders must come to terms with realities on the ground and chalk out a plan for graceful exit from Iraq.
Already two hundred thousands light arms are missing. They should not be surprised when heavy arms would start missing in a hostile population. Iraqi society and its institutions cannot be structured on the principles andlines of the West. Certain Western ideals and practices come in direct clash with Iraq’s religious and historical sensibilities, therefore, any attempt at changing, modifying or nullifying them is bound to backfire albeit violently. Iraq is an Islamic society and does not need education or inspiration from the immoral, unethical and unscrupulous leaders of the West like George W Bush, Blair and now Gorden Brown.
With all times highest concentration of the US forces in the region
including three carriers in the region each having hundreds of cruise
missiles to turn the region into hell. The USS John C Stennis, the USS Dwight D Eisenhower and USS Nimitz with their battle group of destroyers and guided missile cruisers are already stationed in close proximity to Iran and they can quickly be joined by three more now at sea: USS Ronald Reagan, USS Harry S Truman and USS Theodore Roosevelt.
Presently, the US marines have the USS Boxer and USS Bataan, the USS Kearsarge and USS Bonhomme Richard carrier forces in the Gulf. Three others, the USS Peleliu, USS Wasp and USS Iwo Jima, are ready to join them. The US has already shifted from Virginia to Bahrain the HQ staff to manage these forces.
Bush claims to bring peace and stability in the region. Each day, however, a battery of false allegations against Iraq, Syria Hamas and Bezbollah is levelled. With a magnificent show of force Bush wants nations to submit to US suzerainty. Further Bush’s credentials as man of peace are extremely doubtful. He is knee deep in Iraq fighting for the safety and security of his forces, but this does not discourage him to threaten the world with yet another showdown in the Gulf.
Information
The Nation that prided in her destiny, cultural and historical richness and her tryst with prime human glories has been turned into a simmering cauldron of inhumanity by George W Bush in cahoots with his erstwhile colleague from Britain, its chatterbox Prime Minister.
First appeared in Pakistan Observer on Sept. 18, 2007