Blindly Into Baghdad....Again

[marmar]

from the Sydney (Aus.) Morning-Herald:


Blindly into Baghdad … again


January 20, 2007
Page 1 of 5 | Single page
Another defeat in the anarchic Iraqi capital will make it very difficult for George Bush to deny his failure in Iraq. Paul McGeough reports.

After nearly four gruelling years, the war in Iraq may be entering its most critical phase - a surge by American forces that needs results in a hurry, lest the whole adventure be confirmed as the US failure it appears to be.

The US President, George Bush, has claimed repeatedly that victory is just around the corner. Now, he has actually admitted that his strategy was doomed - far from advancing liberty, it has been spreading anarchy. Washington must try a different tack, the President said.

But as Bush aides fleshed out the detail of his new plan over the past 10 days, they robbed the President of the luxury of time. They are demanding policy backflips by the Shiite administration in Baghdad that are seemingly impossible at the same time as they insist on results in a matter of just months.

Thus Bush is setting the stage for a critical milestone, not just in the Iraqi conflict, but also in the global war on terrorism which he launched in the immediate aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington.

Any lingering doubts that the US-led coalition forces in Iraq are hostage to religious, ethnic and tribal forces beyond their control will evaporate unless Bush's new 21,000-strong US troop deployment can impose a genuine sense of law and order and real security. Their failure in Baghdad would make it very difficult for Bush to deny that he has failed in Iraq.

Despite all the partisan rhetoric and brinkmanship in Washington these days, that will be a defining moment in US history - because, whether they are Republican or Democrat, few in Washington would be able to stomach the many ugly consequences of being seen to be surrendering by ordering the American troops home. .....(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/blindly-into-baghdad-8230-again/2007/01/19/1169095977653.html

[hwmnbn]

1. "...the failure it APPEARS to be."

This failure is more than just appearances.

[acmavm]

2. George, it's TOO FRIGGIN' LATE. It was to late before the

first bombing of Shock and Awe.