The irony of the UK defence cuts, announced by the government this week, is that the armed forces will no longer be able to embark on "Iraq style invasions".
Had that invasion not been sanctioned by Labour it would have saved lives and many billions of pounds, thus lessening the effects of this week's cuts.
Showing posts with label legacy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label legacy. Show all posts
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Fortress Baghdad
President Bush announced the implementation of his "Fortress Baghdad" policy yesterday. Which, in summary, involves sending another 20,000 or so US troops to Baghdad together with a similar number of Iraqi troops.
In hard political terms, even though this is utter folly and will result in many more civilian and military deaths, Bush has no choice but to do this.
Bush is in the final leg of his presidency, he is looking to leave a legacy. Currently the legacy of his presidency will be that of catastrophic failure at home and abroad; with the Republican party pushed out of Congress, the Senate and more than likely the Oval Office.
Bush, in his mind, has nothing left to lose, and everything to gain by throwing another 20,000 troops at the problem.
The fact that they are to be positioned only in Baghdad indicates that Bush has realised that the rest of Iraq is now beyond hope. His strategy, if that phrase can be used for this folly, is to maintain fortress Baghdad and the world's largest embassy; thus giving the US some foothold in the Middle East, which is now in total chaos as a result of the failed US venture.
All is not lost for Bush, Britain's foreign secretary Margaret Beckett came out in strong support of Bush today; saying that she was pleased that he was doing this.
What she forgot to mention was that Britain will not be putting more troops in to back up our US allies, but in fact withdrawing 3,000 in the coming months.
Bush stands isolated in his Whitehouse bunker, at home and abroad, it is only a matter of time before he is forced to yield.
Unfortunately his imminent demise has been brought about at the heavy price of thousands of lives, and utter chaos in the Middle East.
Mission Accomplished!
In hard political terms, even though this is utter folly and will result in many more civilian and military deaths, Bush has no choice but to do this.
Bush is in the final leg of his presidency, he is looking to leave a legacy. Currently the legacy of his presidency will be that of catastrophic failure at home and abroad; with the Republican party pushed out of Congress, the Senate and more than likely the Oval Office.
Bush, in his mind, has nothing left to lose, and everything to gain by throwing another 20,000 troops at the problem.
The fact that they are to be positioned only in Baghdad indicates that Bush has realised that the rest of Iraq is now beyond hope. His strategy, if that phrase can be used for this folly, is to maintain fortress Baghdad and the world's largest embassy; thus giving the US some foothold in the Middle East, which is now in total chaos as a result of the failed US venture.
All is not lost for Bush, Britain's foreign secretary Margaret Beckett came out in strong support of Bush today; saying that she was pleased that he was doing this.
What she forgot to mention was that Britain will not be putting more troops in to back up our US allies, but in fact withdrawing 3,000 in the coming months.
Bush stands isolated in his Whitehouse bunker, at home and abroad, it is only a matter of time before he is forced to yield.
Unfortunately his imminent demise has been brought about at the heavy price of thousands of lives, and utter chaos in the Middle East.
Mission Accomplished!
Friday, August 04, 2006
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Saddam's Legacy
President Bush, speaking at the Freedom House Organisation yesterday, said that Saddam Hussein exacerbated ethnic and sectarian divisions within his country in order to keep himself in power.
Bush noted that the "toxic atmosphere" in Iraq "bears witness to his terrible handiwork."
Bush added:
"Much of the animosity and violence we now see is the legacy of Saddam Hussein".
The president noted that before Saddam, Iraqis from different ethnic, tribal and religious communities managed to live together.
Quote:
"To prevent these different groups from coming together to challenge his regime, Saddam Hussein undertook a deliberate strategy of maintaining control by dividing the Iraqi people."
Adding:
"It is hard to overstate the effects of Saddam's brutality on the Iraqi nation these wounds will take time to heal."
The president noted that the removal of Saddam Hussein was "the necessary first step in restoring stability and freedom to the people of Iraq."
He stated:
"For the Saddamists, provoking sectarian strife is business as usual."
The question remains, how will the near civil war in Iraq be stopped?
Bush noted that the "toxic atmosphere" in Iraq "bears witness to his terrible handiwork."
Bush added:
"Much of the animosity and violence we now see is the legacy of Saddam Hussein".
The president noted that before Saddam, Iraqis from different ethnic, tribal and religious communities managed to live together.
Quote:
"To prevent these different groups from coming together to challenge his regime, Saddam Hussein undertook a deliberate strategy of maintaining control by dividing the Iraqi people."
Adding:
"It is hard to overstate the effects of Saddam's brutality on the Iraqi nation these wounds will take time to heal."
The president noted that the removal of Saddam Hussein was "the necessary first step in restoring stability and freedom to the people of Iraq."
He stated:
"For the Saddamists, provoking sectarian strife is business as usual."
The question remains, how will the near civil war in Iraq be stopped?
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