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Sept. 8, 2010 During the Cold War, US policy was to maintain a strong military presence in the Persian Golf to prevent a Soviet land grab. It always supported reactionary dictatorships. Iran under the Shah, the extremely oppressive Saudi Royal Family to this day. After the Iran revolution, the US switched its support to Sadam Hussein. When Hussein grabbed the Kuwaiti oil fields at the end of the Cold War, the US was able to form a coalition against Iraq. It even had the moral support from Moscow to oust Iraqi forces from Kuwait. This post Cold War chapter seemed like a happy ending. Peace, prosperity and security in the Gulf Region were a reality. At least some people thought so. When the Coalition allies withdrew. US forces stayed in Kuwait and Kurdistan. North and south No Fly zones were establish to prevent genocide against the Kurds and the Shia Arabs. This deteriorated into a ten year bombing campaign against Iraq. The US pressed for UN sanctions, which severely hurt the Iraqi economy. Otherwise the Gulf Region was stable. The crowning point of US Gulf policy was the liberation of Afghanistan from the monstrous Taliban. Then came the inexplicable aberration, the totally unprovoked invasion of Iraq. Overnight, the US transformed itself from a nation supporting freedom to that of despicable aggressor. Especially in the eyes of the Muslim world. The liberators of Afghanistan became the occupiers of that unhappy nation. Last week, President Obama officially ended the occupation of Iraq, the bulk of American forces began to leave. Nevertheless 50,000 US troops will remain in the country. The military result in Iraq, at best, is a stalemate. The political result is a stalemate, too. In Afghanistan, you've guessed it. Stalemate. What American military operations have achieved was destabilize its old faithful ally, Pakistan. Is it time to concede the game and walk away from the chessboard, or is it time to begin the end game? For one, there is no one to concede it to. The US has been playing against itself. A not so silent kibitzer, Iran has been watching the game and gaining influence and stature in the area. The US has also been playing a larger but quieter game. It has steadily worked at trying to encircle Russia with countries if not hostile to Russia, at least friendlier to the US. In the west, it has expanded NATO. In Georgia it has Sakashvili, an openly American stooge and Washington Neocon. While in Afghanistan it has used the excuse of logistical requirements to establish an air base in Kirgizstan. By being in Afghanistan, the US can also threaten China on its western flank. This might explain why the US is willing to spend billions at the risk of letting its economy go over the cliff. This larger game could possibly work if the rest of the world was ready to accept the US as a world hegemon. By bringing in NATO into Afghanistan, instead of strengthening the alliance it has weakened it. European nations have had enough of this war. Germany is about to greatly reduce its military. This could be a sign of things to come.
One of the great lessons in history comes from Alexander the Great. After crossing Afghanistan into India, he decided that once was enough.
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