Welcome to the American new beginning of history. And it goes like this:
About 5 years ago, a bunch of terrorists attacked the US, and the attack earthquaked the American mith of security. That day has become the day that changed the world: 9/11. Fear prevailed over reason. Within a while GwB, 43, declared war on terror, than smashed the Taliban in Afeganistan, embezzled “weapons linked with terror” to go after Saddam in Iraq and engaged in a time, life, money and power consuming warfare. But in fact, it was not 9/11, but 20/03 (beginning of the so called ''Operation Iraqi Freedom") that is going to enjoy the title of the day that changed the world: here's my why.
Five years, and a many absurds later (including disrespect for domestic and international rule of law), the world hasn't changed (at least not the way annalists and policy makers expected). The US has been as unilaterally arrogant as since 1989/1991 (the post cold war era), been an Axis of Evil instigator, but still enjoys the supremacy of the only global power. However, because of 20/03 that may change. I have read it from start to end and here is what Baker/Hamilton (officially the Iraq Study Group) Report has to offer to the America:
"There is no magic formula to solve the problems of Iraq. No one can guarantee that any course of action in Iraq at this point will stop sectarian warfare [meaning civil war], growing violence, or a slide toward chaos. There must be a renewed and sustained commitment by the United States to a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace on all fronts. The United States must not make an open-ended commitment to keep large numbers of American troops deployed in Iraq. Miracles cannot be expected. The challenges are daunting. There is no guarantee for success in Iraq. Total attacks in October 2006 averaged 180 per day, up from 70 per day in January 2006. Some 3,000 Iraqi civilians are killed every month. Al Qaeda is responsible for a small portion of the violence in Iraq. The Mahdi Army, led by Moqtada al-Sadr, may number as many as 60,000 fighters. Approximately 141,000 US military personnel are serving in Iraq. Security is lacking. Corruption is rampant. Capacity is inadequate. Iran is negotiating with the United States in the streets of Bagdad. To date, the United States has spent roughly $ 400 billion on the Iraq war. Estimates run as high as $ 2 trillion for the final cost of the US involvement in Iraq. The ability of the United States to shape outcomes is diminishing. Time is running out. United States must build a new international consensus for stability in Iraq and the region. As an instrument of the New Diplomatic Offensive, an Iraq International Support Group should be organized immediately. The Support Group should consist of Iraq and all states bordering Iraq, including Iran and Syria…the five permanent members of United Nations Security Council; the European Union. Other countries…could also become members. The Support Group should call on the participation of the office of the United Nations Secretary-General in its work. The Support Group should actively engage Iran and Syria in its diplomatic dialogue, without preconditions." (these are of course my choice of remarking sentences of the report, these are excepts, not a full transcript of it, that you may enjoy reading yourself at United States Institute of Peace.)
20/03 has started changing the (post-9/11) world and this report makes the big picture of it: after US stepped in Iraq, the world power sharing as started to change and as soon America steps out (or even earlier when it announces the disengagement of) the Middle East, the world will never be the same again. One thing is for sure: the Baker/Hamilton Report show us glances and shadows of a new world that GwB started to breed in 20/03 and as far as history goes Iran and Syria are not there to make a pro bono, viewer-friendly, face-lift over US failures in Iraq.
Time is running out, says the report. What’s your call, Mr. Bush?
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