Oops! Speech Re-Write...
How nastily inconvenient, at such a signal time. Just when all the chips were falling neatly into place. When you're in a tight place, the idea is to attempt to manipulate events to result in a little more squirm-room. And, oddly enough, the end-effect of U.S. commander in Iraq, General Petraeus's report seemed to do just that for the embattled President Bush - if only marginally. When you're desperate for a respite in critical analysis, any measure of relief is appreciated.So, just as General Petraeus suggested/recommended, President G.W. Bush has affirmed; some six thousand U.S. troops will be leaving the war zone to return home in time for Christmas. Something like throwing a dog a bone when what he really wants is a good hearty meal. After all, as the current U.S. administration would have it, the troop surge was a "success". Let's see: 30 thousand in the surge, about 6 thousand limping home.
The long-term plan is to negotiate an "enduring" strategy for peace with Iraqi leaders. Encompassing military, economic and political assistance. All possible and even non-negotiable because of the outstanding success of the current campaign. Success, as Mr. Bush would have it, which has resulted in the teasing possibility of troops returning Stateside.
The "success" of which General Petraeus spoke and President Bush echoes is a marred count of fewer deaths occurring in that miserable, war-torn country. Hard to believe, reading of all the sectarian violence, the unremitting death toll of civilians, the various militias busily working for Master Death in obedience to the Sunni-apprised, or Shia-versioned call of Allah.
And oh yes, the growing willingness of tribal chiefs, of hitherto malignantly adversarial Sunni Sheiks to work alongside the Americans in an effort to cleanse the country of foreign attackers, principally al-Qaeda affiliates - that too is a resounding success. Sheik Abdul Sittar Bezea al-Rishawi whose courageous stance so endeared him to the U.S. is no more.
And how could that possibly be? After all, his willingness to work alongside the U.S. in a belated but very much appreciated turn-about to achieve a joint effort of rousting al-Qaeda made him inordinately valuable, not only as a practical military ally but as a wonderful propaganda tool. The high esteem in which he was held by the U.S. encouraged others to do likewise.
And because he was so valuable, all the stops were pulled out in ensuring his safety. He lived in a walled compound; the surrounding area cleared of any potential terrorist cover, the terrain altered to forestall the possibility of car bombs. Meticulously cared for, and guarded by scores of Iraqi police.
Still, if one's enemies are sufficiently determined and the merest, slightest opportunity presents itself, forget all precautions, nothing will sufficiently suffice to deter the Angel of Death. His armoured car destroyed just outside his heavily fortified home. Isn't that, in a nutshell, the lesson of occupied Iraq?
But we mustn't view this unfortunate inconvenience as a failure, not at all. For as Mr. Bush declared: "The way forward I have described makes it possible, for the first time in years, for people who have been on opposite sides of this difficult debate to come together."
Labels: Middle East, Terrorism, Troublespots
posted by Pieface @ Friday, September 14, 2007
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