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Sabah Arar / AFP - Getty Images
Iraq's former premier Iyad Allawi during a press conference in Baghdad in October, 2009.
A leading Iraqi politician has accused the country's prime minister of acting like Saddam Hussein in trying to silence opposition, saying he risks provoking a new fightback against dictatorship.
Iyad Allawi -- a former prime minister who leads the Sunni-backed Iraqiya bloc -- also claimed the United States had pulled out its troops "without completing the job they should have finished."
Allawi said that the current premier, Nuri al-Maliki, had used fabricated confessions to demand the arrest of the country's Sunni Muslim vice president, Tareq al-Hashemi.
Al-Hashemi, who has taken refuge in Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region, denies allegations he ordered bombings and shootings against his opponents. The move against him, on the very day U.S. troops left the country, threatens to upset a balance among Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish factions.
As troops leave Iraq, they cross the border into Kuwait for the final steps toward departure. NBC's Richard Engel reports.
Speaking to Reuters two days after the final departure of the U.S. forces that ended Saddam's Sunni-dominated rule, Allawi called for international efforts to prevent al-Maliki, who is a Shiite, from provoking renewed sectarian warfare of the kind that killed tens of thousands in the years after Saddam fell in 2003.
"This is terrifying, to bring fabricated confessions," Allawi said shortly before leaving the Jordanian capital Amman to return to Iraq. "It reminds me personally of what Saddam Hussein used to do where he would accuse his political opponents of being terrorists and conspirators."
"We fear the return of dictatorship by this authoritarian way of governing. It's the latest in a build-up of atrocities, arrests and intimidation that has been going on a wide scale," said Allawi, who comes from the Shiite Muslim majority but who has drawn support heavily from disaffected Sunnis.
As prime minister for 10 months under U.S. occupation in 2004 and 2005, Allawi was accused of revealing an authoritarian streak himself. He later led the Iraqiya bloc to first place in last year's parliamentary election but ended up joining a coalition headed by al-Maliki, who retained the premiership.
He said he would now try to unseat the prime minister in the legislature: "We have to make a move to bring about stability to the country by trying to find a substitute to Maliki through parliament," said Allawi, who repeated allegations that Shiite Iran is seeking control in Iraq now that U.S. forces have left.
"Maliki has crossed all red lines and Iraq is now facing a very, very serious and very difficult situation," he said.
'Very heart of democracy'
"We are watching events unfolding which are aimed at the very heart of democracy and stability," he added. "The Americans have pulled out without completing the job they should have finished. We have warned them that we don't have a political process which is inclusive of all Iraqis and we don't have a full-blown state in Iraq."
"We want to resolve issues between Iraqis in a peaceful way and we want to bring stability. Iraqis should fill the vacuum, rather than anybody else," Allawi said, in a reference to his view Iran is intent on filling a vacuum left by U.S. troops.
Iraq sits on a sectarian, Sunni-Shiite faultline that is generating conflict throughout the region, notably between Iran and Sunni-ruled Arab states like Saudi Arabia. While the overthrow of Saddam in Iraq bolstered Shiites, the uprising against Iran's Syrian ally President Bashar al-Assad could lead to power in Damascus shifting toward Syria's Sunni majority.
"The rise of sectarianism is already there," Allawi said. "We are witnessing the beginning of it and the influences of what is happening in the region is only adding fuel to the fire. My fear is that the Iraqi people will lose faith in the political process and sectarianism will prevail.
"Unless the international community and the region get involved and unless sense prevails, Iraq is heading towards a very big conflict."
Also Tuesday, al-Hashemi told a televised news conference that he has not committed any "sin" against Iraq and also described the charges as "fabricated." He accused al-Maliki of being behind a plot to smear him and declared that efforts at national reconciliation had been blown apart.
"I'm shocked by all these things," al-Hashemi told reporters in the northern city of Irbil. "I swear to God that al-Hashemi didn't commit any sin or do anything wrong against any Iraqi either today or tomorrow and this is my pledge to God."
He said the arrest warrant was a campaign to "embarrass" him. He blamed al-Maliki, although he did not say specifically what he believed the Shiite premier had done.
"Al-Maliki is behind the whole issue. The country is in the hands of al-Maliki. All the efforts that have been exerted to reach national reconciliation and to unite Iraq are now gone. So yes, I blame al-Maliki," he said.
The Iraqi prime minister effectively runs the Interior Ministry, where the charges originated.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Leave a Comment:
I don´t doubt everyone belives the U.S. left before finishing the job.
The Iraqi government desired such.
It is the leadership of Iraq that wanted the U.S. gone immediately. They got what they ask for and apparently don't like the results.
If we couldn't fix it in this amount of time it just ain't fixable.
It was the Iraqi leadership that refused multiple requests from our govt and military to help troops, help the Iraqis. We gave them what they wanted and now they don't want to take responsibility for their own decisions. We gave 10 years of our lives, billions of dollars, thousands of fellow soldiers lives, and for what? For them to whine that a decade wasn't enough? BS
Whether or not we left too soon or too late isn't the issue. The issue is that America was ready to bring us home and that is what America did. The troops are happy with this decision. Please don't turn this into a Bush or Obama debate. It comes down to the population wanted it over, so the majority spoke and it is now over. Let Iraq worry about Iraq.
This is the nature of the people of the middle east...I have worked with people from the mid-east for years ....lying and deceitful...It's part of the culture... And they always have there hand out for a money to close the deal. Only to ask for more....Let them eat cake!
We gave them what they wanted and it wasn't enough.
.
Sounds like just another social entitlement program.
.
Surprised the left wingers aren't all over this, look at how we're disenfranchising the poor Iraqi's. Surprised they aren't volunteering to pay more taxes to cover the cost of this welfare program.
We lived up to our agreement-- Obama checked with Maliki to see if he wanted us to stay-- but the Iraqis wanted us out. This guy doesn't have a leg to stand on- he must just want attention.
The US left before finishing, What?
So what are we getting paid for the 'job?'
Run your own crappy country.
What job was it that needed finishing?? Hell, we stayed well beyond our welcome. Good riddance, Iraq.
We left EXACTLY when Bush said we were going to leave. So much for following the right (wrong) wing.
In the eyes of Alawi, no one could have done the job right or finished it. Dissing America is easy to try to gain attention, but changes nothing. As an American taxpayer, I am tired of throwing my tax dollars down the toilet. Enough...we are OUT OF THERE!!!!
Mission Accomplished. Remove ALL usa troops from the entire mideast. We cannot help them. They must help themselves and fight for their right to live.
It's your country, it's your job to fix it.
Iraq deserves a lot of admiration for their most recent elections, and a lot of head scratching is in order due to the bizarre length of time it took to form a government after that.
With all due deference to Allawi, Iraq is a sovereign nation, now. They deserve our friendship and respect, but we cannot solve all of their problems.
We were essentially told to leave. We were told and not so much as a thank you from them. In point of fact they were celebrating in the streets. I suppose they have no intention of paying us back for the cost of this war. I guess they do not intend to support the families of our fallen troops. No way do they intend to help the many thousands of those who lost limbs in this long battle. They will not even consider helping the children of these troops. We got a real FU from them as our last man left their country. I guess we didn't win their hearts and minds, but those sobs are pumping a lot of oil now.
Most of us understood that unless..........there would be a blood-bath between the Shiites, Sunnies and Kurds. Their war has just begun. If they add Iran to the mix they will have a serious problem. As stupid as they are on the hill, not a single congress man would vote to send another single service-man back.
“…….leaving job unfinished??”
I can’t see how the country’s restless “warring factions”, Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds can be brought to work together for the benefit of the country. Their differences are simply too big and entrenched to make it possible. Iran will make sure it can’t happen.
The only way to finish the job and keep Iran at arm’s length is by installing another Saddam Hussein like character to rule the country.
@ kritt,
Here we go again lies just so we will come and fight your fight. These people have cried wolf one to many times. They need to get some balls and handle it themselves.
And whose fault is that? Not Americas , chump- we have 4700 dead and what, 35,000 injured, and all we get from the Iraqis is "death to America".....well, we are out of there now, so your fervent desires are staring you in the face.
We've told them for years that they are gonna have to work together, and all they say is "Kill, kill, kill!" Their social structure and "religion" DEMANDS blood,- and that is OUR fault? The U.S. is channeling Mohammed?
Really, the ingratitude of the Iraqis is just astounding. It's like dealing with a spoiled five year old. No matter what you do it's not enough, they hate you for it, and for being there, but if you leave, they hate that too!
Well, BYE!!!- have a nice life, as short as it will be. Kiss your camel goodbye.
@ Ritdog:
The Americans are the spoiled 5 year olds in your equation.
America invaded and occupied the country without an invitation, killed 350,000 Iraqi citizens, injured millions, refused to hold cold blooded muderers accountable for their actions because they wore the U.S. military uniform, and IDIOTS LIKE YOU can't even begin to understand why our presence in the country was intolerable for the Iraqis.
Of course America left the job unfinished, you can't rape, rob, murder, and pillage your way to a functioning democracy. If only the Pentagon could figure that out, the world would be a safer place.
Allawi could have asked Bush when he signed off on the withdrawal agreement 3 years ago. A little late now.
Didn't Allawi play a large part in convincing Bush/Cheney Iraq would be easy pickins?
The man is a retard, good riddance.
I'm sure we'll see some idiot saying the same about Syria next.
The Iraqis remind me of our own welfare junkies in this country and prove once again that when you give people something for which they did not have to sacrifice or work, they have no true appreciation for your "gift" whether it is money, food stamps or "the gift of democracy".
I was just as happy as the next guy the day they stretched Saddam's neck; when they killed his psychopathic sons and his other associates. BUT, unfortunately, we made a big mistake going in and doing the heavy lifting for the lazy, sit on their asses Iraqis who, unlike the brave people of Libya, were unable to find the courage or manhood to actually start their own uprising , put their own lives on the line and then ask for help.
Reminds one of the French during WWII - where only about 2000 or less (that's two thousand) out of 50,000,000 (that's fifty million) Frenchmen took part in the French resistance, while the rest sat passively on the side lines either going along with, betraying their countrymen to the Nazi's or actively cooperating with the Nazi's in the ruling of their own people (Viche - is the name they went by).
The people of Iraq had exactly the type of leader that was most fitting for their characters and temperaments when they had Saddam, and despite all of his negatives the man did at least know how to keep their vicious penchant to start slicing and dicing each other at bay for decades. We,of course, (and how we couldn't realize this is what would happen is beyond me) set them "free" to begin their genocidal blood letting process and then of course they blamed us when they had no desire to step up to the plate and accept responsibility.
Thank God we are out of that God forsaken hell hole - let them solve their own problems; and if they want to continue killing each other with gleeful delight, well - "Not our problem" anymore!
WOW, we are gone because they told us to get out. After two days they are not happy with the results so far?Well they should get off their @sses and work together instead of listening to the religious fanatic demagogues and start working together so life is better for everyone. AND MAYBE WE SHOULD TOO!!!!
Yes, we clearly left before finishing our job. That job being raising the unruly Iraqii childish society to become productive mature adults. Of course that job will take another thousand years, but don't bother with those minor details. Oh well, even our children at 18, 21, or 25 are often unprepared for adulthood. Too bad kids, time to grow up and stand up. Freedom isn't free, time for you guys to pay your own piper. After all, your civilization is thousands of years older than ours. You should be teaching us how behave like grownups, right?
If they could not get up off their asses in 8 years and do something for themselves, then they deserve what comes. It is not our problem anymore. It never should have been our problem.
It's so funny the Republicans that caused this war - then allowed it and Billions in Cost to continue for 8 years, will not help their own people who are unemployed mainly as a result of this expensive effort.
At that moment, I wanted to put a bullet into the head of every panda that would F*** to save its species
The Sunni-Shiite factions of Islam have been fighting each other for about 1300 years, Saddam was a Sunni; the group now in power are Shiite; Sunni will tolerate Jews and Christians, the other group believes you must kill all Jews and Christians, we wasted our solders, reputation , military equipment, 10 years and a couple of trillion dollars of borrowed social security payroll taxes; and archived nothing, but 100 thousand badly injured American service persons and 5000 dead, Bush and Cheney should be tried for treason.
That's it. That is what we get. We spend all of our resources on one country and all we get is contempt. Strange as it sounds, I think we got what we were asking for. Not the veterans; they fought for their nation and for their fellow comrades and for the civilians whose lives depended on them. But our nation got what we were asking for. We invaded a nation with NO direct threat to us, NO evidence of WMDs, NO support from virtually the whole world. We killed the guy, who we SUPPORTED, and then set up a new government. Problem is, it is very hard to create a democracy in the Middle East. I should know; my father was an immigrant from Lebanon, the only real Arab democracy where power is split between the Christians and the Muslims. Don't criticize the Iraqi people; many are uneducated and are poor. Some have lost relatives due to the war, and whatever thanks they have for us killing their former tyrant is buried under the weight of the power vacuum created by Saddam's ouster. When your poor and uneducated, you don't know what democracy is. You don't want freedom or liberty, or at least not at first. The first 2 things you want (for the most part) is food and education; food to live and an education so you can get the food and provide a better life for your family. After you receive an education, then you realize that your are being abused and then you want freedom. That is how it is in the Middle East. If you want to put blame on someone, blame yourself. We elected an idiot to be president; we let him select an administration of idiots; we let them spend our taxpayer money on stupid foreign wars and unnecessary tax cuts when what we REALLY needed was investments in OUR future. Instead of funding some war in the Middle East, we could have rebuilt and modernized our infrastructure. Instead of funneling $50 billion to the Dept. of Homeland Security, we could have used that money to update our education system and to make it competitive. Instead of the tax cut we could have worked to fix entitlements, pay off our debts, help prevent the impending recession or just prepare for it, and work to make America a better place for business and to cut down on off-shoring. But we didn't. We now have to deal with the consequences, my fellow Americans. And if you want to go along with the path of destruction that we have walked for the past 8 years, fine by me. But if you want change, vote in 2012. I'd ask you to vote Democratic, but that would just be plain wrong. All I ask is for you to vote responsibly for SOMEONE who will help America. Don't focus on party; just on country. Vote for people who will work to help the middle class, who will bring prosperity back to America, and who will compromise their beliefs to get things done. The only candidate that I think has done that is Obama, but that's my opinion, not yours. Do whatever you think is right for America. P
AMERICA 2012
Stunning!! I see a constant theme among the commenters, and, sadly, they are right. This reminds me of Kharzai's statement about supporting Pakistan if open hostilities broke out between them and the allied coalition. What a jackass. We've spent far too much in money and lives and our own future only to be reviled in return. After two tours in the Middle East, I have no more hope for any real democracy there than I had ten years ago. Iraq has no democratic imperative on which to build. Give them a year, tops. There will either be a military coup and another Sadam-style dictator or open civil war between the Sunnis and Shiites. And we still have Iran to deal with. What a colossal waste.
Sounds to me like Allawi is ticked off because he in no longer in power and the Americans that initially supported him and put him in power have left the country. This guy always struck me as a grandstanding egotist anyway!
If they're not even willing to fight for their own freedom, they dont deserve it and wont be able to keep it. It was never our job; its theirs. You cant hand out freedom on a silver plater.
Agree, Agree, Agree. I cannot believe that a "leader or ex-leader" of this country has the balls to say we left a job undone, a job that they never even attempted to do, a job that when complete benefits no one but themselves, oh but if they take on a self governing democracy, then they actually have to think for themselves and be resonsible for the outcome.
There may be just some sour grapes here, but, I would take that as an early warning of things to come. It's real easy for a repressed people to fall immediately under a different oppressor in the name of freedom. If they have, we have failed.
DB Akron, WE did not fail, they have. The only governing method they understand is a dictator. Someone who will stand with his or her boot heel on their necks and force them to do what they do not want to do. That gives all of them someone to hate together. Then they can work together to get rid of that person and go to another dictator. Until they want someone different, not one more drop of blood from our military men and women should be shed in that dump. The only way they might get things to go along is to do a bit of work with another country and make a Sunni country, a Shi'ite country and a Kurdish country. Make sure everything is even as far as resources and then build walls so they have something to bomb and throw things at. Maybe, just maybe, they will have a bit of peace in the mideast. Either that or carpet bomb the entire area!
@ Meezermom59
Agreed! The Iraqis don't want to take responsibility for their country, just like the Afghanis, they can't see the world except what exists between the the jutting mountains that surround their immediate vicinity!
I have more hope that the Libyans, Tunisians, and Egyptians will establish themselves as free democracies than the Afghans and Iraqis.
At least in Iraq, the people have lived with a centralized government, the Afghans however are locked in a mindset tainted by decades of war and tribal disputes dyed with the color of religious fanaticism and xenophobia. They will be in a state of perpetual war with themselves until they fall under another brutal regime that's even scarier than what's in their hearts. Congrats.
I love that Iraq is criticizing the US for leaving a job unfinished. Well, give us immunity like the agreement to renew called for. Your government didn't want to continue the US's immunity, so buh-bye, hasta nunca!
As far as I'm concerned, the Middle East will never see peace until they shed the mantle of religious fanaticism and establish secular government where laws are based not on superstition and dogma, but actual sound reason and justifiable equity.
I just roll my eyes when I see these governments deciding that they need a quota of X% of each religious caste. Completely ridiculous!
I'm no genius, no political expert, but I'd be willing to bet there will always be conflict in this region. Iran is a very dangerous neighbor, and with our military gone, they are going to do all they can to gain as much influence as they can in Iraq. I'm venturing a guess that we're not done in that vicinity. I'm going to guess that it's probably only a matter of time before we have boots on the ground again..just right next door. I hope it doesn't come to that, but these are a people who don't listen to reason.
They wanted us out so we left. Now they blame us for leaving too soon?? These people can only blame others for their failures..sounds familiar doesnt it? ie congress
Can't you people read it was the EX-PM get it EX that said we left to soon.
We have left. Period. Whatever issues there are in Iraq, we invested enough technical support, infrastructure, money and lives. Think this is an issue undone, look at what is happening in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen. Popular uprisings ousted the dictators only to be thwarted by infighting. There was nothing we could do about it there and nothing more we can do for Iraq.
I supported the invasion, I supported the occupation. Now its time for us to go and stay gone. By staying out, it silences the critics that said this was all about oil.
Good point about the oil - but they'll pick something else to complain about.
Trouble is, when oil hits $300 a barrel after some despot takes over the fields, the libs are gonna complain about not being able to drive therir Volvo to the protest marches.
That will be out fault too. Wait and see.
Ritdog, you do know it is the Repubs who are all for big business don't you? They are the ones driving their big SUV's and Volvo's and Mercedes around guzzling the gas. They are the lobbyists at Congress who spent so much time and money preventing a way for new power methods to be developed. It's the treehuggers, almost always liberals, ie Demos, who are for keeping the earth clean...The libs objected to nuclear power and considering there are spent power rods being trucked everywhere with no place to put them, they just might have a point, they might be right. Instead of pointing fingers, Americans need to work together to develop a source so we don't need their oil. Then they can bathe in it for all we care. Then they and their crap hole countries can blow each other up....
Although we were there for many years and the Democratically elected government of Iraq wanted us out of Irag. Now we are going to get to hear all the annoying noise from the conservatives and their candidates about what a bad decision it was to leave...WAH!! ATTENTION GOVERNMENT! Most of the American people want you to start fixing what is broke at home. PLEASE end all military adventurism and nation building at your earliest convenience...
There is no way the US makes everyone happy. It took to long to leave, we didn't stay long enough... It depends on who you talk to. They don't want us the interfere, they want us to make sure everything in their government works correctly.
Hell, we can't even get our act together at home. Iraqis can now vote, they need to do so.
It would not have mattered if the US had stayed for 20 years we would have never brought peace and stability to Iraq. American lives lost for nothing. The middle eastern people want freedom but want someone else to fight for it on their behalf. The US needs to stay out of the middle east conflicts period. We need to begin protecting our own borders and helping our own citizens. It is time that the entire world, as a whole, began fending for themselves and fighting for their own freedom.
Preemptive wars of choice are not only immoral but very costly. As soon as US soldiers left look whats happening. Who should be held accountable for the tens of thousands of killed and wounded the trillions spent and the prestige lost?
2001-2011 America's lost decade
What would they have us do in Iraq?
We can't fix tribal hatreds that the people clearly aren't ready to give up themselves.
Civil war is inevitable in a country so divided by differing faiths and old grudges.
Correct. We couldn't fix our own tribal hatreds and had to go through civil war too. Maybe no culture can begin to grow up until it gets to the verge of annihilating itself in order to change for the better.
Right and they have been doing it for thousands of years. Now it is in their blood and a way of life. I know because I have been in that part of the World.
Left the job undone? You can only open Pandoras Box. You can't close it. Thats as done as that job gets.
Ex-Iraqi PM accuses US of leaving job unfinished. Not true, we destroyed both their country and culture. Mission Accomplished.
"destroyed their culture" No, they still sleep with sheep and beat their women.
...we didn't destroy anything.....their country has a better chance now for the future than they ever had in history and their culture is still there and in their hands to do what they wish....
Should have figured we'd hear some of your bull---- on this thread. Not true! We destroyed Saddam, his family and his dictatorial machine. Unfortunately, their culture is the same as it's been for thousands of years. THAT'S what is about to destroy their country. Start seeing things as they are, not as you'd like to blame them.
Steel toed you are partly right. got rid of Saddam. Do you not remember shock and awe! Iraq was bombed back to the stone age meaning the whole countrie's infrastructure was destroyed. And guess who paid for the reconstruction? You and I and all the US taxpayers. and look where our economy is.
The only ones to make money were arms manufacturers military contractors and Iraqui corrupt politicians
Iraq gives U.S.companies a contract worth $ 640 million in the Zubair field
And Iraq had signed contracts with foreign companies todevelop 11 fields in an effort to boost production to about 12 million barrelsper day by 2017.
The Iraq's oil production is currently about 2.8 millionbarrels a day, the first time it had reached this level in 20 years thanks to increased investment and the decline of violence.
http://www.aknews.co...knews/2/279450/
Bush wasn't as dumb as you think. Multiple contracts in Iraq for U.S. contractors.
Crazson34 most of those oil companies you mention are not American. and let me ask you; How much of those profits are going to the average US taxpayer whom in the end is the one that got stuck with the final cost! not to mentions the lives lost.
Since I have 3 family workers, 2 building an embassy and 1 working in the oil trade, and they both live right here in the USA where they couldn't find jobs, I'd say, in my family as well as the workers they say they work with, a pretty high percentage. Lives lost can never be measured and God bless our fallen soldiers. I on the other hand was a bridge builder here in the good old USA and couldn't find a job to save my life so I became a nurse. That sir is a,,,,,,,FACTOID.
Exactly my point your 3 relatives did benefit and that's why you are a Bush fan. If I had become rich profiting from the Iraq war I too would love GWB. But; a lot less than 1% of Americans are oil workers and or make money building expensive embassies in the middle east. So the fact remains the AVERAGE US TAXPAYER got screwed while a few made tons of money.
Lol, I'm not a Bush fan. I disagreed with way too many things to count. I do believe that a majority of Americans demanded Bush act and act he did when we were hit. When the bombs were dropped on Baghdad, I was like most Americans and glad to see America respond to ALL enemies as well as the pounding Afghanistan took. You've got me all wrong if you think I'm a GWB lover. My family has not made tons of money and I even had to go back to school to learn a new lifestyle and yes, bridge builder to nurse requires a lifestyle change and I'm anything but rich. I'm trying to put 3 kids in college and rebuild my life after losing a couple years work and I didn't file ch. 7 or anything else. I'm sick of the left, I'm sick of the right and until we find a middle, I'm sorry my friend, we're all screwed. Look for jobs abroad.
nuckin' Futz... all of the Middle East and worldly leadership! Anything else new? Surprised?
The Iraqi's wanted us out, we are out. The fallout is theirs to deal with. They can clean up from here and the blame game doesn't hold water here. Nothing more than a cop out!
Who cares what this guys says, he is the ex-PM. That would be like Dick Cheney saying the job was not finished. No one is listening..
Can't bring saddam back to quell the sectarian nutcases, so, they need to find another one like him...
This was always a war for oil, based upon bush-lies... and if the Iraqis don't like us leaving now, let them hire Halliburton themselves and, on their own dime.
So how many times are you going to post this Crazson?? Just curious. Is it stuck in your cut and paste and you can't get it out?? Get a clue please.
They just want us to keep doing all the dirty work for them. Saddam is gone- past time to get your act together.
If Iraqis want to remain independent and free of outside influence, it's up to them to do it. They can't rely on the U.S. forever, it cost lives and money. The money is one thing but the lives are what is the shame.
I'm sure most Iraqis don't want to be occupied or controlled by Iran any more than the U.S. but it's up to them to keep their own house clean. They have been given the opportunity, now they have to step up to the plate and do what's right.
Here is a little aside; as long as religion is ultimately in control and has the final say, nothing will get any better.
Screw you, Iraq. One American life lost during this "war" was one too many. STFU. We are gone. Figure it out yourselves. A-holes.
Ex- for a reason lol
He's right, we didn't pave the country over.
Big surprise the US messed up again. No matter what we do, we can't do it right when it comes to the rest of the world it seems so screw you guys, it's your crappy country now. You wanted us out, so we are out. Good luck.
THREE WORDS: "Peace with Honor", the same formulation which excused our abandonment of S. Vietnam because of American war weariness (born of the idiocy of the intervention and the stupidity of our tactics and strategy). Just as JFK's sanction of Diem's overthrow and assassination ensured that Vietnam would devolve into dysfunction, so our deposing of Saddam Hussein guaranteed the same result in Iraq and, just as in Vietnam, we have now cut and run. The end result will be that we will have traded a regional counterweight to Iranian pretensions for an anarchistic country fit chiefly to be Iran's latest proxy and ally in the region.
Mind you, the whole intervention was so inane and stupid and counterproductive that I am not sure that we had any alternative but to call it "quits", but let's not pretend that we are leaving because we accomplished a damn thing, save such advantage as accrues to our enemies.
Enjoy the results, folks, and next time your leaders work you up to a war frenzy, ask questions before you give sanction to the adventure.
Agree! Let su learn from this little adventure and make damn sure the next time we are asked to send our troops into a war, we ask questions and make sure it is for a valid reason.
If anyone careed to read a history of the middle east, they would know that this was a mistake. Everyone on all sides that agreed with Bush/Cheney to go to war should be held accoutable. War for profit is against the law.....Cheney and his Halliburton pals made out like bandits. To all of those that lost loved ones in this debacle, or came back home barely whole, thank you for your sacrifice! Pleae forgive us, we sent you to kill and die FOR NOTHING EXCEPT CORPORATE GREED....NOT FOR FREEEDOM!
After the Viet Nam mistake, I thought we had learned.....unfortunately, we have not. Wave the flag and tote out the bible, and we fall in line like sheep!
"If anyone careed to read a history of the middle east, they would know that this was a mistake"
This would really been Wolfowitz's responsibility initially. He was the wonk, the intellectual neocon. But something tells me Cheney would hear none of it as he wanted to leave his legacy on the ME. And a reminder Bush did not even know the difference between the Shiites and the Shia.
Worst of all we removed the bulwark that Saddam had built against Iran. Neither country wished to move on the other, not after the incredibly bloody Iran-Iraq war. But Iran now has major influence in Iraq despite the fact the most Iraqi Shia are Arab as opposed to being Persian on the Iranian side. And what of the forgotten Kurds? They seem to have little influence at all and desire their own country.
There is going to be a bloodletting. When a minority population controls a majority things can get very ugly when the roles get reversed.
Should we take over endlessly over there? Done for now let's say. Rove/ bush machine caused a giant mess