Monday, November 24, 2003
When will it all end? More on the Iraq/Afghanistan situation.
When and where will it all end? Things look like they are quickly destabilizing in the Middle East. As the sitaution spirals out of control, we seem to be passing the point where events can be used solely as ammunition to take potshots at the Bush administration with (pardon the pun). A look at the past week's events paints a frightening picture of a rapidly-increasing number of terrorist actions committed by Al-Qaeda (and related sympathetic groups) targeting both western interests and the muslims working with them:
"Istanbul Rocked by Car Bombs": At Least 20 Killed, 303 Wounded in Explosions Outside 2 Synagogues. (Source: Washington Post)
"Twin Truck Bombings in Turkey Kill 27": Suspected al-Qaida suicide bombers blew up trucks packed with explosives at the British consulate and a London-based bank Thursday, killing at least 27 people and wounding nearly 450. The blasts, just minutes apart, were the worst terrorist bombings in this Muslim nation's history, and marked the second attacks in Turkey to be blamed on al-Qaida this week. (Source: Guardian UK)
"Ministry, Hotels in Baghdad Attacked--Rockets Were Fired From Donkey Carts": Insurgents fired at least a dozen rockets from donkey carts at Iraq's Oil Ministry and two large hotels here Friday in a symbolic strike on two well-fortified targets just after a top U.S. commander proclaimed progress in the military's aggressive new counterinsurgency operation. (Source: Washington Post)
"Suicide Attacks Target Iraqi Police": A pair of suicide car bombers attacked police stations in two towns northeast of Baghdad on Saturday, killing 11 policemen and five civilians in an escalating campaign against Iraqis cooperating with the U.S.-led occupation. (Source: Washington Post)
"Rocket explodes outside major Kabul hotel--No casualties reported" The attack has raised concerns about security in Kabul, where rocket and mortar attacks have been fairly rare since the fall of the Taliban regime two years ago, ahead of next month's loya jirga, or grand council, where the new constitution is to be ratified(Source: Toronto Star and MSNBC)
"Plane hit by missile over Iraq" (Source: Reuters UK)
"Attack in N. Iraq Kills 2 Americans--Crowds Reportedly Mutilate Soldiers' Bodies" (Source: Washington Post)
"Five U.S. Soldiers Killed in Copter Crash Near Kabul" (Source: Washington Post)
"Violence Shadows Kandahar's Revival -- Afghan Extremists Force Out Aid Workers": Despite nightly broadcasts urging citizens to run in the December constitutional assembly election, officials said that far fewer people than expected had registered as candidates. They were simply too afraid. "People have been threatened by the Taliban and al Qaeda," said an official at the election office. "We put announcements on the radio, but people are just not ready to come." (Source: Washington Post)
"Al Qaeda's terror style spreading--Analysts see a form of franchising at work around globe": Leaders of the al Qaeda terrorist network have franchised their organization's brand of synchronized, devastating violence to homegrown terrorist groups across the world, posing a formidable new challenge to counterterrorism forces, according to intelligence analysts and experts in the United States, Europe and the Arab world. (Source: Washington Post)
In light of this series of events, the following response by the US seems to almost miss the point:
"'Shock and awe' reprised as U.S. tries to regain upper hand--Counterinsurgency campaign replaces search-seize raids": In a reprise of last spring's "shock and awe" strategy, nighttime explosions rock Baghdad and surrounding cities that have been hotbeds of a determined underground Iraqi resistance. It's part of a strategy to regain the initiative in Iraq. (Source: National Post)
"U.S. Military Returns to War Tactics--Resumed Use of Heavy Munitions Part of Intensified Counterinsurgency": The U.S. military is using 2,000-pound bombs and precision-guided missiles in Iraq for the first time since April as part of a tactical shift designed in part to intimidate resistance fighters. (Source: Washington Post)
It seems obvious that the pre-emptive and uniliateral "Shock N Awe" invasion of Iraq
served as a catalyst for increasing, not reducing, terrorist activity in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East. More of the same hardly seems like the right solution moving forward.
At least it seems as though some in the Bush administration understand the reality of what lays ahead without feeling the need to serve up more empty rhetoric and bravado:
"Iraq War Will Be Long and Costly, Admits Rumsfeld" (Source: Voice of America)
"Pentagon Considers Creating Postwar Peacekeeping Forces": The Pentagon has begun to look seriously at creating military forces that would be dedicated to peacekeeping and reconstruction after future conflicts. The move marks a reversal for the Bush administration, which came into office strongly resistant to peacekeeping missions and intent on trying to get Europeans and other allies to shoulder more of that burden. (Source: Washington Post)
You also no longer hear the administration make pronouncements regarding Iraq of a quick success and early exit by US occupying forces:
"Army Is Planning for 100,000 G.I.'s in Iraq Till 2006": Army planning for Iraq currently assumes keeping about 100,000 United States troops there through early 2006, a senior Army officer said Friday. The plans reflect the concerns of some Army officials that stabilizing Iraq could be more difficult than originally planned. (Source: New York Times)
Although Bush himself, or at least parties acting on his behalf, continues to politicize the Iraq/Afghani war issue rather than level with the US public about mismanaging foreign policy in this area if this video (Real One Player plug-in required), sponsored by the RNC and scheduled to start airing this past weekend, is any example.
Related reading: "Democrats Demand Bush Pull TV Ad Attacking Critics of Iraq Policy" (Source: Washington Post)
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"Istanbul Rocked by Car Bombs": At Least 20 Killed, 303 Wounded in Explosions Outside 2 Synagogues. (Source: Washington Post)
"Twin Truck Bombings in Turkey Kill 27": Suspected al-Qaida suicide bombers blew up trucks packed with explosives at the British consulate and a London-based bank Thursday, killing at least 27 people and wounding nearly 450. The blasts, just minutes apart, were the worst terrorist bombings in this Muslim nation's history, and marked the second attacks in Turkey to be blamed on al-Qaida this week. (Source: Guardian UK)
"Ministry, Hotels in Baghdad Attacked--Rockets Were Fired From Donkey Carts": Insurgents fired at least a dozen rockets from donkey carts at Iraq's Oil Ministry and two large hotels here Friday in a symbolic strike on two well-fortified targets just after a top U.S. commander proclaimed progress in the military's aggressive new counterinsurgency operation. (Source: Washington Post)
"Suicide Attacks Target Iraqi Police": A pair of suicide car bombers attacked police stations in two towns northeast of Baghdad on Saturday, killing 11 policemen and five civilians in an escalating campaign against Iraqis cooperating with the U.S.-led occupation. (Source: Washington Post)
"Rocket explodes outside major Kabul hotel--No casualties reported" The attack has raised concerns about security in Kabul, where rocket and mortar attacks have been fairly rare since the fall of the Taliban regime two years ago, ahead of next month's loya jirga, or grand council, where the new constitution is to be ratified(Source: Toronto Star and MSNBC)
"Plane hit by missile over Iraq" (Source: Reuters UK)
"Attack in N. Iraq Kills 2 Americans--Crowds Reportedly Mutilate Soldiers' Bodies" (Source: Washington Post)
"Five U.S. Soldiers Killed in Copter Crash Near Kabul" (Source: Washington Post)
"Violence Shadows Kandahar's Revival -- Afghan Extremists Force Out Aid Workers": Despite nightly broadcasts urging citizens to run in the December constitutional assembly election, officials said that far fewer people than expected had registered as candidates. They were simply too afraid. "People have been threatened by the Taliban and al Qaeda," said an official at the election office. "We put announcements on the radio, but people are just not ready to come." (Source: Washington Post)
"Al Qaeda's terror style spreading--Analysts see a form of franchising at work around globe": Leaders of the al Qaeda terrorist network have franchised their organization's brand of synchronized, devastating violence to homegrown terrorist groups across the world, posing a formidable new challenge to counterterrorism forces, according to intelligence analysts and experts in the United States, Europe and the Arab world. (Source: Washington Post)
In light of this series of events, the following response by the US seems to almost miss the point:
"'Shock and awe' reprised as U.S. tries to regain upper hand--Counterinsurgency campaign replaces search-seize raids": In a reprise of last spring's "shock and awe" strategy, nighttime explosions rock Baghdad and surrounding cities that have been hotbeds of a determined underground Iraqi resistance. It's part of a strategy to regain the initiative in Iraq. (Source: National Post)
"U.S. Military Returns to War Tactics--Resumed Use of Heavy Munitions Part of Intensified Counterinsurgency": The U.S. military is using 2,000-pound bombs and precision-guided missiles in Iraq for the first time since April as part of a tactical shift designed in part to intimidate resistance fighters. (Source: Washington Post)
It seems obvious that the pre-emptive and uniliateral "Shock N Awe" invasion of Iraq
served as a catalyst for increasing, not reducing, terrorist activity in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East. More of the same hardly seems like the right solution moving forward.
At least it seems as though some in the Bush administration understand the reality of what lays ahead without feeling the need to serve up more empty rhetoric and bravado:
"Iraq War Will Be Long and Costly, Admits Rumsfeld" (Source: Voice of America)
"Pentagon Considers Creating Postwar Peacekeeping Forces": The Pentagon has begun to look seriously at creating military forces that would be dedicated to peacekeeping and reconstruction after future conflicts. The move marks a reversal for the Bush administration, which came into office strongly resistant to peacekeeping missions and intent on trying to get Europeans and other allies to shoulder more of that burden. (Source: Washington Post)
You also no longer hear the administration make pronouncements regarding Iraq of a quick success and early exit by US occupying forces:
"Army Is Planning for 100,000 G.I.'s in Iraq Till 2006": Army planning for Iraq currently assumes keeping about 100,000 United States troops there through early 2006, a senior Army officer said Friday. The plans reflect the concerns of some Army officials that stabilizing Iraq could be more difficult than originally planned. (Source: New York Times)
Although Bush himself, or at least parties acting on his behalf, continues to politicize the Iraq/Afghani war issue rather than level with the US public about mismanaging foreign policy in this area if this video (Real One Player plug-in required), sponsored by the RNC and scheduled to start airing this past weekend, is any example.
Related reading: "Democrats Demand Bush Pull TV Ad Attacking Critics of Iraq Policy" (Source: Washington Post)
