Posts About Iraq
It's the (Iraqi) Economy, Stupid!
Civil wars are about control of measly resources in desperate economies, and returning life to "normal" in Iraq must have the economy at its heart. Iraq needs a massive injection of real capital within three years, in a variety of industries, without staking all hope in the oil law and continuing to ignore the political realities of the country today.
Start with Cool Heads and Good Faith
The tense recent history leading to such talks has been remarkably devoid of any kind of diplomacy. The Bush era has seen intensified tough talk, with the baggage of recent history piled high on both sides of the table. These negotiations will take time, and won't go anywhere if they aren't done in good faith.
America Waltzing in a Minefield
The situation in Iraq is not simply a matter of invasion without conquest, a failing puppet state. Iraq was already a minefield, and the invasion’s waltz of quickstep missions turned that minefield into a very complex disaster zone.
Progress by Whose Standards?
The White House does not have the best track record for deciding what is progress in Iraq. But two wrongs don't make a right, and the U.S. should not run away from the damage it has caused without fixing it either. The U.S. Congress's vote today against withdrawal is positive, maybe the only "progress" the White House has had -- a chance to get it right.
In on a Stallion, Out with Tail between Legs
Tony Blair cam into power like a hero, young and zealous to change the Labour Party and the world. He clicked with his equally savvy counterpart in the White House, Bill Clinton, But despite his robust reforms in the UK, his association with Clinton's successor turned him into a servile beast, devastatingly humiliated.
Bush Is Right This Time
Somalia/UAE - If the people of Bosnia and Rwanda could overcome their genocidal ethnic wars and forge ahead to build their future, I don't see why Iraq cannot do the same.
Prophetic Middle East Poetry
Somalia/UAE - By delving into the Arab literary wisdom one stumbles on the prophetic manner in which Arab and Muslim poets and philosophers through history have predicted the present situation with precision.
The Apocalyptic Whistle
Somalia/UAE - To calm down Iraqi Sunnis, who feel humiliated, Saddam Hussein should be released and exiled to Venezuela.
Look Out For Shia-Sunni War
Somalia/United Arab Emirates - A divided Iraq will create satellite states owing their existence to powerful neighboring rivals. Oil will fuel a struggle for survival.
To Stop Terrorism, U.S. Must Disengage from the Mideast
Somalia/United Arab Emirates - Many in the Muslim world view the news of the thwarted terror plot as the hypocritical West crying wolf again. The frontpage article of Dubai's Khaleej Times ran the banner headline: "Foiled UK terror plot is a diversion from bloody attacks on Lebanon."...
No Exit Now
Paris, France - There is no way for the U.S. to withdraw from Iraq now. A federal system should be created that includes as many levels of devolution as necessary -- certainly more than just Sunni, Shia and Kurdish entities.
But How Could They Reelect Bush?
For a long time, most people around the world had two contradictory views about the U.S.: they liked America's people and values, but had serious problems with U.S. foreign policy. Then came 9/11 and the Iraq war, tensions grew, but people could still differentiate public from policy. Until the American people reelected Bush.
Neighbors Won’t Step Up Until U.S. Gone
The situation in Iraq will eventually be resolved by Iraqis, but the presence of Americans will delay any serious attempts at a solution. American occupation remains the strongest argument for armed opposition, as well as the first excuse why other countries in the region don't help Iraq out.
Russia Could Check U.S. Power
I am not very informed about the Eastern European issues that made Russia stand up to the U.S. and NATO, but I can safely say that the world with a single superpower has not been that safe. I don't know if George W. Bush would have made his adventure into Iraq had the Russians been a force to reckon with or not, but I am sure that the White House and Pentagon would have had to think much harder about it before getting themselves into the mess they have....
Iraq Will Be Split Up
Amman, Jordan/Ramallah, Palestine - The Arab countries are so weak and Western powers so strong that I wouldn't be surprised by a new Sykes-Picot agreement re-dividing up Iraq and the Middle East.
President Bush, Admit Your Mistakes
Amman, Jordan/Ramallah, Palestine - Before talking about troop withdrawals, the U.S. must admit it made a mistake in occupying an Arab country without international support.
Don't Break Iraq Up, Just Get Out
Amman, Jordan - Breaking up Iraq is part of the colonial "divide and rule" strategy. But there is no alternative solution to what all Iraqis, including those who support the U.S., demand -- the departure of America and their allies....
Things Remain the Same
Warsaw, Poland - Iraq will be ruled by Shia strongmen.
Make a Democratic Federal State
Poland - Dividing Iraq into two, three or any number of ethnic enclaves would be a truly disastrous idea. Iraq has to remain as a multicultural, multiethnic regional power to counter growing and extremely aggresive ambitions of Islamic Iran....
Destroying (Uh, Saving) Iraq Not Yet Done
I do agree with Mr. President that the job is not yet done. The country is torn but not permanently broken. Sectarianism is confined to a conflict between Shias and Sunnis -- the Kurds, the Christians and other minorities are not yet actively engaged in the blood bath. Iraq can still be taken a lot farther down this chosen path.
Competing for Influence, Not Freeing Iraq
While it is good that the U.S. is opting -- for the time being at least -- for talks rather than war with Iran, it is unlikely that a democratic and independent future for Iraq will be on the agenda....
Baghdad Walls No Vision for Future
The U.S. strategy has been focused on "security" -- stopping armed attacks against its forces and the Iraqi government. But setting up barriers around Sunni neighborhoods will only promote sectarianism and legitimize armed opposition groups. The U.S. does not have a clear vision of how to end the occupation and provide a future for all Iraqis.
America Loses, China Rises
Jerusalem, Israel - China will sweep into the Middle East with its economic power.
If Leave, Regional War and "Shiastan"
Four years ago, George W. Bush opened Pandora’s Box. And now there is no realistic way to put the lid back on. The Iraq war was a mistake, but leaving now would be far more costly than staying. There would certainly be regional war.
There Will Be No Iraq
Mexico City, Mexico - Without effective idealism or force, Iraq will become what it always was: an unstable entity bound to fall apart.
Iran Is Invincible, For Now
Mexico City, Mexico - We have reached new, ominous depths when the world's cleverest political strategy is crafted in Tehran. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has taken the two main geopolitical forces of our times - the high price of oil and the growing instability in the Middle East - and used them both to strengthen his regime. Sanctions, though hard to pass, are needed....
Adversaries Will Capitalize on a Distracted America
The real prison in Iraq is the black hole that has transformed American foreign policy into a tunnel with only two departure points: Iraq and its neighbor Iran.
Yes, How Outrageous to Uncover Iraq Lies
Certainly, journalists do not have the high moral standards of today's politicians. How could they have the indignity to reveal Blair's cover-up of bribery in arms deals with Saudi Arabia? They couldn't even take a hint and keep quiet about Blair's lies on Iraq. How sensational! Even The Economist stooped to such lows. As a practicing beast myself, I understand his outrage.
Occupation Only Lights More Fuses
Brilliant proposition, but there is a third “mine” – undermine. George Bush has undermined the American people with the number of fuses he has lit in the Middle East. If the Iraq mine explodes when the foot comes off, that's better than staying to light more fuses.
Allied With Iran Against Israel
New Delhi, India - Equipped with a mountain of weapons left behind by George Bush, the Iraqi armed forces will raise confrontation with Israel to the top of its agenda.
Install a Muslim Force in Iraq
New Delhi, India - The most important word in the question is 'three', for 9/11 occurred five years ago. Muslims of faith are sensitive to the difference between justice and injustice, and they view the occupation of Iraq, with its chorus of lies and daily scenes of death, as the ultimate injustice of our times....
Europe Fears The Unintended Consequences
Europe has a long history in empire building, and is well aware of the shortcomings of policies that rely on dominance rather than balance.
Iran's Own Manifest Destiny
Cairo, Egypt - Middle East nations perceive the U.S. and the West trying to dominate the region through economic, political and military means. Iran's nuclear challenge to the West then becomes a welcome relief for many....
Let Iraqis Decide
Egypt - Any attempt to impose a three ethnic enclave solution against the wishes of the Iraqi people would be disastrous. Most Iraqis are against a partition of their country....
America, It's Your Baby
The consequences of the U.S. leaving Iraq too soon would be devastating. But the question is not just a practical one, it is a moral one. A majority of Americans supported the Iraq war; now they are responsible for what happens in Iraq. Or they can never again claim the moral high ground anywhere in the world.
Iraq Won't Change Much
Beirut, Lebanon - It was always easier to check into Iraq than to check out. Despite much fiddling and fidgeting, the U.S. will probably be in more or less the same position in Iraq in 2008 as it is today.
America Must Not Cut and Run
Beirut, Lebanon - "When in doubt, partition," say unimaginative diplomats. Results aren't so good: Korea, Vietnam, India, Palestine, Bosnia.
Iraq Will Be Decisive to Middle East Stability, Not Iran
Beirut -- For Iran to become the dominant power in the Middle East, the United States and the region's majority Sunnis would have to disappear. That's not soon likely, so expect more tension as Iran and the U.S. go at each other....
Split It Up: Learn From Former Yugoslavia
Tokyo, Japan - Given the staggering daily death tolls in Iraq, divorcing warring parts may be a viable way to lesson tragedies while enhancing democratic practices within the smaller units....
No Great Leaders, Only Great Times
I happen to think that there are no great leaders, only great times. And in great times, politicians and statesmen can lead effectively enough to earn the appreciation of posterity. Some luck is required to find oneself in power during great times, and some luck is needed to avoid making great mistakes.
Don't Meddle From Afar
Budapest, Hungary - Let me share with you an old joke frequently told in Hungary to begin my comparison of old, fractured Europe and modern Iraq....
Masterful Coup Despite Finger-Wagging
The seizure of British sailors -- and their surprising release -- was the perfect publicity stunt by Ahmadinejad. The U.S. needs to stop thinking it can scare countries into passivity by simply labeling them as its enemies.
America Is a Sleeping Beauty
We have learned how destabilizing the American presidency can be when democratic institutions stop doing their job to countervail White House power.
With Luck, A New Vietnam
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Let's imagine how prosperous Iraq's future could be if, by some miracle, internal divisions disappear, war ends, and oil export limitations are lifted.
America's Learning Disability in Iraq
The United States government is suffering from a curious learning disability when it comes to Iraq. As it begins the painful process of disengaging from Iraq, the U.S. is at risk of repeating the mistakes it made going into the war....
An Iraqi's Anniversary of Saddam's Fall
Five years after the democratization process began in Iraq, I stlll say it was worth it -- but Saddam's fall will only have meaning when Iraqis come together, take responsibility, embrace democratic principles, return freedom to Iraqi citizens and build a humane state.
360 Degrees from Erbil: The Iraqi Kurds Need Turkey
The Iraqi Kurds' biggest worry isn’t Turkey – it’s Iran.
A Real Kurdish Solution
The revival of Kurdish nationalism is actually an opportunity for the U.S. to help negotiate peace there.
Kurds: Armenians Win, We Pay the Price
As a minister in Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government, I fear we may soon bear the brunt of a U.S.-Turkey-Armenia conflict that has nothing to do with us.
Allawi Is Waiting
For four years, former Iraqi prime minister Iyad Allawi has been a secular voice of reason in Iraq. He does not yet have enough Parliamentary votes, but may be gathering support for a constitutional coup.
U.S. Agrees to Meeting with Iran and Syria
The Bush administration has agreed to sit around a negotiating table with Iran and Syria next month -- as part of a planned regional conference in Baghdad to discuss ways to stabilize Iraq.
U.S. Must Not Abdicate Responsibility
Athens, Greece - If a multinational force cannot be established in Iraq, the United States might have to increase its number of troops there.
Don't Create Failed States
Athens, Greece - Riven as it already is by extremists in the insurgency, a Sunni region could easily become a failed state and a haven for terrorists.
No Sense of Panic With Iran
The Iran issue is serious, but European diplomats have been working intensively on it for years and there is no sense of panic.
Dividing Iraq Will Exacerbate Regional Tensions
Paris, France - Iraq would not be better off if divided since Iraq would be no more. And what of the Iraqis? I say they probably will not be better off because the fighting will go on under new banners....
PostGlobal Bloggers
M. J. Akbar, New Delhi, India Mubashar Jawed Akbar is a leading Indian journalist and author. He's the founder and editor-in-chief of The Asian Age, a daily multi-edition Indian newspaper with a global perspective and editor-in-chief of The Deccan Chronicle, a news daily based in Hyderabad. He has written books including Blood Brothers, Nehru: The Making of India, Kashmir: Behind the Vale, Riot After Riot, The Shade of Swords, and India: The Siege Within. Kyoko Altman, Hong Kong, China Kyoko Altman is a writer based in Hong Kong. She has worked as a correspondent and anchor for CNN and...
Scorecard Blames Iraqis for U.S. Mistakes
The idea that the White House can lay out a scorecard for progress in Iraq after the death, destruction and regional turmoil it has unleashed is politically incredible and morally deficient. It smacks of yet another example of Western armies invading the Middle East and then blaming the shattered local societies themselves for being shattered.
Can't Dominate Arabs, Or Each Other
Mutual respect would be a good starting point for the focus of the next U.S.-Iran talks. Abiding by international law and political consensus would be another one. The two sides should consider creating a Helsinki-like approach to the issues that divide them, grounded in recognition of what they can and cannot achieve.
Digging the Iraq Hole Deeper
A better analogy would be the hole-digging one: when you're sinking into a deepening hole and you need to stabilize the situation, stop digging. More troops cannot produce a peaceful Iraq, only a government that Iraqis see as legitimate can.
Tyrants Gone, Iraqis Fight For Themselves
Religious and ethnic groups fight to protect themselves and their communities when the state cannot. The violence in Iraq today is the culmination historic tensions and an invasion that removed what state structures had managed to hold the place together.
21st C. Churchill in Another Man's War
Tony Blair's legacy has many parallels to Britain's revered leader of World War II, Winston Churchill. But while Churchill sent British troops into battle to defend their homeland against Nazi invaders, Blair has sent his soldiers to die for a cause not their own. It is that of the friend who may bring his legacy down: George W. Bush.
There's No Iraq, But Keep it Anyway
Damascus, Syria - In 1921 Iraq's founder wrote: "There is no Iraqi nation" just "groups of people without any sense of belonging." It's still true.
Iraq Can Succeed -- Unless Iran Gets Nukes
The war in Iraq cannot be viewed in isolation. Iran is heavily backing jihadis in Iraq as part of a regional effort to oppose the U.S., destroy democracy and eliminate prospects for Arab-Israeli peace. While it took the White House too long to adopt the current strategy, there is no reason to believe it cannot work -- unless Iran is allowed to obtain nuclear weapons.
Destroy is Easy, Win takes Patience
Try this analogy: the American tortoise racing a terrorist hare. Terrorists have an advantage in that it is easier to destroy than to build and preserve, but destruction loses support over time. The terrorists' only hope of winning in Iraq is for the U.S. to lose the will to keep going -- slow but steady.
America overstated the importance of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in Iraq. True or false?"
Yes, the US has exaggerated the importance of Zarwqawi, but that is always...
Iraq Exports Weapons of Desperation
Car bombing has developed as a unique weapon of desperation in the hands, mostly, of Islamic extremists. We have not seen it in East Asian cities, which have more homogeneous populations than London and strict standards of public security. But is this phenomenon a result of Iraq? The bombings do seem to extend outwards from there...
Take a Nuclear Iran Over An Incompetent Invader
The world expects the worst of the Bush administration. Despite the sense that attacking Iran is not a rational policy choice, most everyone suspects this administration is capable of doing it.
Talk Like Turkey
Istanbul, Turkey - Back before the war began Turkey called for a conference between Iraq's neighbors. Most dismissed the importance of this move. Now everyone is gung-ho about dialog.
Mixed Up in the Wrong Crowd
The West is about to lose the only formidable leader in the cohort of the past age. Tony Blair’s tragedy is that he has been surrounded by Jacques Chirac, Gerhard Schröder and George Bush -- the most disappointing team of Western leaders since World War II.
U.S. Reaches its Global Limits
Johannesburg, South Africa- The Iraq Study Group's damning report points to the waning influence of U.S. power in the Middle East, and around the globe.
Withdraw U.S. Troops Gradually
Johannesburg, South Africa - The withdrawal of U.S. troops must be accompanied by the creation of an interim government from representatives of all groups and leaders. They should plan fresh elections after an initial transition period.
Withdraw from Iraq
Johannesburg, South Africa - The new members of congress must push for a time-table to withdraw from Iraq. No military solution is possible.
U.S. Needs Help in Iraq, Iran Wants More
The Bush administration has come to an unfortunately late realization that without Iran, the chances of stabilizing Iraq are slim to none. But Iran has broader interests, for them these talks in Baghdad are only the start. The U.S. will have to give wider concessions, and should seek an agreement for securing the whole region.
Lose-Lose Situation, Start Cutting Deals
In Iraq, the U.S. faces a choice between bad and worse. It would be a mistake to stay for long, but leaving could devastate the region's delicate political composition. To stabilize the situation, the U.S. needs the help of Syria and Iran. There's no alternative to talking.
Make Bush Talk to "Axis of Evil"
Tel Aviv, Israel - Their nuclear projects must be stopped. If the U.S. doesn't use force, it must use diplomacy.
