Britain leaves US holding the monster

The occupation of Iraq has not been a shining example of leadership by the US. The promised to install an ‘American’ style democracy proved to be all to true, when the Bush administration jockeyed to have its own favorites take the reins of power.

These ‘favorites’ were invariably former exiles, he likes of the problematic Ahmed Chalabi. The US choices were clearly not the choice of the fragmented Iraqis, who still resent having leaders foisted on them.

Chalabi was one of the key architects of a war promoted on lies, and has since claimed that having won that war there is no need to justify the means.

Once in Iraq, the US occupation forces and administration have distinguished themselves with corruption, torture and recklessness no better than Saddam’s regime.
Bricks of US dollars, floating freely around occupation personnel, have led to every possible mischief, from petty pilfering to murder.

Bush’s occupation team have been aided and abetted in all of this by the major ally, Britain; although the latter has managed to distance itself from the worst of the excesses.

Under intense pressure of his own domestic scandals and a distinct lack of public enthusiasm for the Iraq adventure, Blair has signaled that it is time to pull out.

The opportunity for Blair comes with the final emergence of an elected government in Iraq, as though that minor miracle is enough to actually stabilize the country.

It does no such thing of course, the disastrous occupation performance only adds to the deep underlying tensions tearing Iraq asunder.

The fact is, with or without Britain, Iraq will continue to be dangerously unstable. The coalition of the willing was always going to bite off more than they could chew.

Britain will soon be out, Italy’s new centre left has said it wants out, Spain pulled out months ago, Australia are only there in a minor role, mainly trying to protect whatever spoils are left for them.
I guess that leaves George W, or more to the point, the American people, holding the baby. There is no easy exit strategy for Bush, nor will there be for his successors. The war on terror and the Iraq adventure have proved to be a brilliant example of judo politics.

A tiny group of well disciplined and committed terrorists have taken on the US and her allies and let the mighty weight of the coalition do enormous harm to itself.

So much for intelligence, planning and tactics, so much for might and fire power; in the end the terrorists best weapon has been the stupidity and greed of the US and her allies.

The awful part of it is that this out come was predicted and predictable. Those of us who spoke out were lambasted and pilloried from the outset, and no doubt will be blamed in some way for the failure of our so-called leaders.

But being right is no bonus once this enormous mess has been created. The monster is lose now and we must all pay the price.

UPDATE:
Adding to the list of endearing behaviour by the US

EVIDENCE to support controversial claims that napalm has been used by US forces in Iraq has been brought to Australia by an Iraqi doctor.

Dr Salam Ismael, of the Baghdad-based group Doctors for Iraq, said the evidence pointed to the use of napalm on civilians during the second siege of Fallujah in November 2004.

The Melbourne Age article went on to report: Dr Ismael said the napalm was a modification from the 1990s of the wind-driven napalm chemical bombs used by the US in Vietnam in the 1960s.
The US Government admits using white phosphorus in Iraq but denies using napalm.