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Sept. 22, 2004 According to a report of the CIA, the situation in Iraq is disastrous. In the best scenario, Iraq will remain a dangerous place to stay for a very long time, in the worst case scenario a civil war will break out. Meanwhile, the situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating fast too. The Taliban are becoming powerful once again, attacking non governmental organisations and even president Karzai. What went wrong after the American invasions in these two countries? The answer is both simple and complex. Simple means: there was no doubt the US Army would win the battles against the Taliban and Saddam´s army in the first round. The US Army is the most effective and powerful army in the world after all. No doubt about that. However, winning the first round is easy compared to beating your enemy knock-out. Especially when your enemy disposes of unexpected strength, help or false tricks. How to cope with such situations is the complex part of the answer. A part President Bush doesn´t seem to be able to outline in advance. What President George W. Bush seems to have neglected in his military campaigns in the first place is the internal opposition against American interference. Afghanistan already was a melting pot of all kinds of tribes and war lords before the Americans came in. Already during the American war against the Taliban it was clear not all of those local war lords were that glad with the American invasion. What followed out of their dislike is their unwillingness to accept president Karzai´s power. Who took advantage of this situation? Right, the Taliban. By the way: where are Osama and Mullah Omar? They still are not to be found. Conclusion: after a successful first round, the US Army seems to be unable to finish the game with the risk their enemies will strike back very hard one day. I´ve written enough columns on this site about what went wrong in Iraq in my opinion. A short summary: that war was illegal, Saddam was never a threat to the USA, the Americans underestimated the resistance among greater parts of Iraqi people and the interference of all kinds of fundamentalist groups and are now slowly going under in the Iraqi quick-sand. America started a war against terrorism. The USA had to do something, of course. All civilized countries have to do their utmost best to stop Osama and his terrorist cells. I´m not questioning this. I do question, and keep on doing this, President Bush´s tactics. The USA need a strong leader? Sure, but how strong is President Bush, tactically seen? I won´t go into discussion about this column. Sorry palls. This is my opinion. I´m able to express my opinion in all freedom, just like supporters of President Bush are. We have exchanged our arguments thoroughly enough the past months, I should say. ------------ About the author: Johan Peters is a freelance journalist from Rotterdam, The Netherlands. He has a great interest in international politics, is not anti-American, but has the meaning things are going totally wrong since the Bush administration has entered the White House. He's glad he can state this meaning in all freedom, also with thanks to the Americans of long ago. See for more information about me my site www.johanpeters.net (partly in English). Email Johan Peters: johan.peters@johanpeters.net Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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