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What could have been done differently in Iraq?
09.04.2013 | (Voice of Iraq) - Add a comment -
Paul Wolfowitz - Deputy Secretary of Defense, former U.S. on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq and the overthrow of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, and in the group of interviews, articles and analyzes relevant to this occasion, make today will intervene in the topic Paul Wolfowitz, who was ten years ago, Deputy Defense Secretary . It is well known that the U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) played during the era of former U.S. President George W. Bush a pivotal role in shaping U.S. foreign policy, particularly in the wake of the September 11 attacks (September) 2001. The Wolfowitz personally at the forefront of those who call to drop the former Iraqi president after the war on al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan. well worth noting that Wolfowitz, diplomatic and strategic expert senior, was one of the brightest object stream «neo-conservatives», which was calculated at the forefront of 'hawks' foreign policy and American defense. In this article explains Wolfowitz reasons that justified to Washington to attack Iraq and overthrow of Saddam, and argues that getting rid of the rule of former Iraqi president was in the interest of the Middle East, let alone of the components of the Iraqi people, unlike those who believe that the war on Iraq has led to a dangerous vacuum exploited by Iran. It is considered that part of the responsibility in the approach of the current regime in Baghdad from Tehran back to the negative Iraq's neighbors of the current system, rather than the vacuum resulting from the overthrow of Saddam. However, in contrast, deals with what considers errors committed by the U.S. administration, and previous administrations in the Iraqi file. it may take a long time before they recognize the results of the war on Iraq. And so that we can understand this, we must reflect on the fact that it was the signing of the Korean Armistice 60 years ago, however South Korea suffered for decades thereafter. Even after 30 years, what was the most optimistic really expect to enjoy South Korea also enjoys today one of the most world economies success, in addition to possessing a political system democratically succeeded in making 6 presidential elections free and fair over the past 25 years. Similarly, it may take many years ago that consists of have a clear picture about the future of Iraq, but we already know two important things: first, that Iraq get rid of a dictator hateful, along with his two sons, who were Litzman equally brutal and bloody, which gave the Iraqi people a chance to build something new is to establish the authority of a representative to deal people as citizens and not as objects, The second thing that we know also is to the Americans did not come to Iraq to plunder its oil or enslave people, but they came to get rid of the system was a threat to the United States, and made great sacrifices and fought alongside the Iraqis in conflict bloody against the dark forces that were trying to return the country to a brutal tyranny. Here it must be noted that rarely praised Iraqis for their roles heroic in this struggle, but we must remember that about 10 thousand members of the Iraqi security forces were killed in that battle (which is equivalent to twice the total dead Americans), in addition to tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians., in fact, not enough word 'evil' to describe Saddam Hussein, who deserves the words much stronger than to express what was committed. When Americans say: 'Yes, Saddam Hussein was an evil man, but the world is full of bad guys, it is clear, then they do not know a lot about Saddam Hussein. After having the oldest Saddam's invasion of Kuwait, Arab leaders have told me in the region of the video is distributed to leaders throughout the Gulf region which appears is in the hall of the Council of the Iraqi people on his inauguration as president, which calls for the names of 'traitors' in the room, then be called up to the outside where executed on the spot. you know, of course, for appetite Saddam to violence and war waged by Iran and claimed the lives of nearly a million people, then invasion brutal of Kuwait, as you may have read wonderful book to Kanan Makiya, who bears the name «Republic of Fear». well learned Saddam spoke with one of our ambassadors in Baghdad contempt for the United States, describing it as «a society that does not accept 10,000 dead in one battle. However, I find it very difficult to believe that the leader of one of the main countries in the Arab world treats such leaders «Mafia» and boasted cruelty. after the liberation of Baghdad, 10 years ago, began copies of that tape ugly show and sold in the markets, along with some other recordings show how the system's reliance on terrorism, including what looks like a training tape for a group Fedayeen Saddam and shows where some people are throwing from high buildings because they disobeyed orders, or break their arms during the exercises with 'comrades' of the group! At Abu Ghraib prison, was found on some political prisoners who were buried in shallow graves, and had been shot dead by guards fleeing the advance of U.S. forces. Inside the prison, there were also attentively execution, because the hangings were a recurring event. Also in southern Iraq, and found land vast desert Saddam had being through draining of the marshes in order to eliminate the Marsh Arabs who lived in those Rabua since more than 4 thousand years, and this genocide was will be classes as if left Saddam in power. And last but not least, there is the mass graves, which is a historical record awful for that system, in addition to being anticipation of what was probably going to happen if the Saddam and his sons in power. Indeed, the cost of getting rid of Saddam Hussein are very high, both in terms of the number of victims of military and civilian or in terms of the massive expenditures for the war, is that Saddam was a threat and clear to the Iraqi people and the region as a whole, and what was his end peacefully, or even death, because his sons were Satulan power and Anqlanha for another generation. Yet that «Iraq Survey Group» which prepared the final report on weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, can not find a stock chemical and biological weapons that were all foreign intelligence agencies believe their existence, this group concluded that Saddam plans to rebuild its weapons of mass destruction immediately able to free himself from the sanctions imposed it. Moreover, Saddam was a threat more pressing, as the terrorists, including «Abu Musab al-Zarqawi», they have already begun work inside Iraqi territory to plot terrorist attacks in Europe and the Middle East. today, can Americans and Iraqis (and members of other coalition ) who paid the price for the overthrow of this tyrant - and their loved ones who paid the price with them - that of pride in that achievement goal in fighting those who seek to destroy the possibility of a new Iraq. Although the rebels and disobedient usually pretend to be fighting for a brighter future for the people, this group of terrorists «base» and former members of the security services to Saddam and militias backed by Iran does not offer nothing but death and destruction to instill fear in the hearts of the Iraqi people. What was the coalition led by the United States or the Iraqi security forces are leading car bombs to explode in front of mosques, or proceeded to detonate bombs at random on the streets and roads. On the other hand, tomorrow fashionable now to say that Saddam was a gravity return or balancer to Iran in the region , but the question that arises now is: Is it useful when Saddam started the war on Iran, which claimed the lives of nearly one million people, including the extensive use of chemical weapons? Was achieve balance with Iran when he invaded Kuwait a few years later? then if Saddam was still in power today, but was likely to extend a helping hand to Bashar al-Assad, fearing that leads success Syrian revolution to become a source of inspiration for Iraqis to revolt against him, or to support rebels who share his hostility to the United States and its Arab neighbors? Was unlikely entirely possible to play the role of mediation to resolve the conflict in Syria. there a lot of things that one can wish that occurred differently in Iraq. Even those who supported the war may have a number of reservations on what happened and wish if things had got differently. I personally have reservations on the feet of the United States to form a «government of occupation 'rather than handed over sovereignty to the Iraqis since the beginning, and the delay for a period of 4 years in implementing the counterinsurgency strategy. It was really clear, shortly after our arrival to Baghdad, that the enemy is seeking to achieve a strategy of launching «guerrilla war» in urban areas - in order to prevent the formation of a new Iraqi government until the departure of the Americans, and he should rely on the counter-insurgency strategy in much sooner. however, should not the United States should regrets 'failure' in the inauguration of a new alternative dictator in Iraq to restore the old pseudo-stability. On the contrary, after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein out of fear for our security, what was forgiven us deny Iraqis the chance of self-determination and choose who governs them. , but, in contrast, was required to apologize truly American, which he did U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Jim Jeffrey in the fall of 2011, is to refrain from assisting the Shiite uprising in 1991 in the wake of the defeat of Saddam Hussein in Kuwait. When Saddam used helicopters war to eliminate the rebels, did not help them the United States even withdraw permission granted to the Iraqi army using helicopters, Saddam had had got it on the pretext that it is necessary because of the destruction of a large number of bridges. was able to the United States, and easily, prevent helicopters Saddam Hussein military from flying, and the prevention of armored army of progress in the basin of the Euphrates River to crush the rebel movements in Basra and other cities and that without the need to progress even for one kilometer inside Iraqi territory, which would have been a greater threat to U.S. forces. Before that, a few days, stopped the United States from attacking Iraqi forces fleeing Kuwait in order to avoid the occurrence of heavy casualties on «by death», but caused b «by death» Last largest allowing the Republican Guard Saddam's move towards the south unimpeded to suppress the uprising. Unlike common belief , this inaction U.S. caused not by pressure Saudi Arabia, when I accompanied Secretary of State James Baker, in his first foreign trip him to the Gulf region after the cease-fire, I heard Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, and the Saudi ambassador to the United States Prince Bandar bin Sultan , two appealing Baker supporting Shi'ite uprising. A month later, the United States led finally a multinational force of infantry to the north of Iraq, to provide shelter for the Kurds. But at the time, was too late for the Shiite south. The suppressed trying to liberate themselves in a more brutal than he does Assad in Syria recently. Thus, if the United States had intervened quickly to help in the liberation of the south and the north as well, Saddam Hussein had deposed, Iraq has liberated the hands of his sons, without those many years of suffering, then the recent war in charge. Unfortunately, this was the Saudi position Karim toward the Shiite Arabs in Iraq since 20 years absent from the policies and positions of Iraq's neighboring countries during the past decade. At best, those countries were acting as if hoping to restore the minority Sunni Arab dominance of the Shiite Arabs and Kurds, and in the worst case, those countries were helping to foment violence on behalf of the «resistance» alleged or allow suicide bombers, and in the case of Syria, to cross to kill Iraqi civilians. As for some of the Gulf states that they wish that peace will prevail region and Iraq is a balance of power, the power of Iran, the position marked by short-sighted. Even those who have nostalgia for so-called 'stability' that Saddam Hussein was provided, they have to realize that there is no way of going back. The only way for a stable Iraq at peace with its neighbors is through a comprehensive Iraqi government to various spectra can gain the trust of the citizens. The way to keep Iraq outside the control of Iran is to support the new Iraqi government, and not to distance them. this distance, not the love of the Iranians, is pushing Iraq to move closer to Iran. As explained leaders Arabia to Baker by more than 20 years, the Iraqi Shiites do not have any desire to become affiliated to Tehran, but when you live in a dangerous area, you may have to reach out to a neighbor bad if did not get the support of his friends. was not Council states GCC alone among the countries that have distanced themselves from Baghdad. In recent years, the United States was doing the same thing. That was distancing clear 4 years ago, in the wake of three bombings simultaneous signed on 19 August 2011, which struck the Iraqi Foreign Ministry and the Finance Ministry and the Rashid Hotel, where he was scheduled to attend the Prime Minister Maliki conference. When Syria refused to extradite suspects believed al-Maliki they were behind these attacks, it took the initiative to withdraw its ambassador in Damascus and demanded that the Secretary-General of the United Nations to investigate the Syrian intervention in Iraq. But the new U.S. administration has made efforts to communicate with Syria, and on 26 August, said Spokesman: «We consider this an internal matter .. We hope that does not hinder dialogue between the two countries. On the other hand, it seems that the Iranians did not hesitate to intervene, as they are putting pressure on President Jalal Talabani to mitigate criticism of Syria. Thus, not surprisingly, that ignores Maliki now appeals the U.S. has that risk to declare his opposition to Assad and his allies the Iranians. In this regard, although it has already been delayed, the formation of an alliance includes Iraq to end the bloody conflict in Syria and providing international support to the Government of Syria New not become impossible after. But that requires «leadership» true American rather than to play the United States role «hidden», as it did in Libya. has become too late for tens of thousands of Syrians who have died, and late also to avoid some of the devastating consequences in the long term, but it is still can participate United States, Europe and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to help put Iraq on the road to governance responsible and comprehensive. might seem that target is unrealistic at the moment, but it will look more realistic if we recall the situation in Iraq between yesterday and today. Of more Iraqi leaders who know them fascinating, is a man who was lucky Pettmdah more than two decades outside the grip of Saddam's tyranny, has once told me that he was dumbfounded when he discovered the extent to which resembles Iraq, when he returned to him, a child has to hyper what was the ill-treatment of any confidence in himself and in others. Abuse has left this very deep scars deeper than those left behind by the Soviet Union in Eastern Europe; still retains the scars of Soviet communism fresh even after a lapse of almost two decades after the fall of 'Berlin Wall'. When thinking about this challenge, we find that Iraq has done well and clearly. Then it is not Iraq alone that bears the scars of the past that should be overcome, but shared in other Arab countries suffered decades of injustice. This will take a long time, as happened with Korea and the United States. It took many countries a long time ago to shake off the authoritarian rule and moving toward a system of government represents the people. Perhaps the investigation that needs to be (and deserve) to assist the United States and all Western democratic countries and all of Iraq's neighbors who want peace to this troubled part of the world. Paul Wolfowitz - Deputy Secretary of Defense, former U.S. Middle East
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