A turning point in the Iraqi mess?

[True_Blue]

BALTIMORE – Historians looking back upon the American experience in Iraq may well consider the events of the first half of November to have been critical in determining the success or failure of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In that time, scores of Americans and their allies have been killed by Iraqi insurgents. Public polling and intelligence surveys in Iraq have discovered that the average Iraqi may be pleased that Saddam Hussein is gone but clearly is not pleased that America is running Iraq.

Analysis of a Gallup Poll of Iraqis finds that fewer than 10 percent of them believe that the US invaded to help Iraqis, and even fewer believe that the US objective was to establish a true democracy in their land.

Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Inquirer got hold of a highly classified CIA report warning that an increasing number of Iraqis believe that the insurgents can defeat the American-led forces, and that the majority Shiite Muslim population might join the Sunnis to achieve that objective. This assessment reportedly was signed by the CIA station chief in Baghdad and Paul Bremer, leader of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq.
more....
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/1121/p11s02-coop.html

[cliss]

1. There really is nothing to lead us

to believe the war in Iraq is anything but a failure. Let's ignore for a moment their "noble" cause of helping the Iraqis. We'll look at the real reason they invaded. It was for control of the oil and control of the Middle East.

What have they accomplished? If those were the true goals, then they have failed miserably in their unstated goals.

1) The oil pipeline is a frequent target of bombings. The pipeline is 900 miles long, and it is vulnerable to attacks. Every time it gets blown up, the US has to move in and repair it, at a cost of $1 million dollars.

2) The Middle Eastern region is now a hotbed of terrorist activity. If anything, violence and bombings have escalated. Neighboring countries have stated their objection to the US's presence. They are assisting resistance fighters in obscure ways.

There's no question about it. November may come and go, but it will still be a failure. The biggest one the US has ever had.

[MissMarple]

2. Good article.

I was just going to post it, but you are way ahead of me. :D

And the author suggests we remember next November who brought us into this fine mess.