Tactical Error

It seems that Saddam Hussein allowed the world to believe the US claims that he had WMD, in order to deter Iran from launching an attack.

This at least is the view of George Piro, the FBI agent who interviewed Saddam after his 2003 capture.

Piro also claims that Saddam was surprised by the US invasion.

Piro is quoted in CBS 60 Minutes as saying:

"He told me he initially miscalculated ... President Bush's intentions. He thought the United States would retaliate with the same type of attack as we did in 1998 ... a four-day aerial attack.

He survived that one and he was willing to accept that type of attack."

Now the Iraqi people have to deal with the consequences of the errors of Saddam and the US.

War in Three Months

As Bush and his colleagues try to console themselves that the so called "surge" has worked, and has achieved a measurable reduction in violence in Iraq, they may care to reflect on an interview given to The Independent by Abu Marouf the Sunni commander of 13,000 fighters who formerly fought the Americans.

Abu Marouf is threatening to withdraw his support, and allow al-Qa'ida to return, if his fighters are not incorporated into the Iraqi army and police.

Quote:

"If there is no change in three months there will be war again."

Bush needs to wake up to the fact that the violence in Iraq has fallen, not because of the surge, but because the United States has handed power to the guerrillas who previously fought it.

Mission accomplished!