Stephen M. Walt sums up the Iraq debacle succinctly:
"The United States and its allies lost the war in Iraq and are going to lose the war in Afghanistan...
By 'lose,' I mean we will eventually withdraw our military forces without having achieved our core political objectives, and with our overall strategic position weakened."
The wasted lives, the devastation, the financial cost all were for nothing.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
How To Lose $6.6BN
When the US belatedly realised that it would have to rebuild Iraq, after the 2003 invasion, it came up with a plan to transport billions of Dollars in cash via Hercules cargo planes (each plane could carry around $2.4BN).
Many years, audits and investigations later the US Defence Department cannot account for what happened to around $6.6BN of that cash.
This remarkable admission of fiscal incompetence comes at a time when the US (primarily thanks to the wars in the Middle East) is broke.
The Los Angeles Times reports that for the first time federal auditors are suggesting that some/all of the cash may have been stolen. Given that cash (as opposed to credit or capital equipment) was used in such huge quantities, it is hardly surprising that it was stolen.
Quite why the US thought that cash (as opposed to credit or capital equipment) was the best way to rebuild a war torn country in the Middle East beggars belief.
Iraq is none to happy with the situation and Iraqi officials are threatening to go to court to reclaim the money, which came from Iraqi oil sales, seized Iraqi assets and surplus funds from the UN's oil-for-food program.
Given that the US is now broke, and in danger of defaulting on its debt, it will be interesting to see if that claim succeeds.
Many years, audits and investigations later the US Defence Department cannot account for what happened to around $6.6BN of that cash.
This remarkable admission of fiscal incompetence comes at a time when the US (primarily thanks to the wars in the Middle East) is broke.
The Los Angeles Times reports that for the first time federal auditors are suggesting that some/all of the cash may have been stolen. Given that cash (as opposed to credit or capital equipment) was used in such huge quantities, it is hardly surprising that it was stolen.
Quite why the US thought that cash (as opposed to credit or capital equipment) was the best way to rebuild a war torn country in the Middle East beggars belief.
Iraq is none to happy with the situation and Iraqi officials are threatening to go to court to reclaim the money, which came from Iraqi oil sales, seized Iraqi assets and surplus funds from the UN's oil-for-food program.
Given that the US is now broke, and in danger of defaulting on its debt, it will be interesting to see if that claim succeeds.
Monday, June 06, 2011
Gordon Brown Accused in WikiLeaks Cables
Cables obtained by WikiLeaks and published by Scotland on Sunday accuse the former Prime Minister Gordon Brown of pulling British troops out of Iraq to improve his chances of winning a general election, despite warnings from the UK's allies that withdrawal would represent a victory for terrorists.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Libya Is Not Iraq
Reuters reports that the Foreign Secretary, William Hague, has stated that the involvement in Libya will not turn into Iraq style conflict.
This despite the fact that Richard Dannatt, former head of the British army, has noted parallels with the campaign in Iraq.
Hague is quoted:
"It's very different from Iraq because of course in the case of Iraq there were very large numbers of ground forces deployed from Western nations.
That's clearly not the case and it's not going to be the case in Libya. It's right to point to the need for a political process when Gaddafi goes, and that of course is something we discuss with the National Transitional Council in Libya.
They have put forward their plans for that, for an interim government including figures from the regime, for the holding of elections and those are the right plans to put forward."
That's all very well, maybe. However, it may well take a lot more resources/military commitment to remove Gaddafi than are already in "play" there.
This despite the fact that Richard Dannatt, former head of the British army, has noted parallels with the campaign in Iraq.
Hague is quoted:
"It's very different from Iraq because of course in the case of Iraq there were very large numbers of ground forces deployed from Western nations.
That's clearly not the case and it's not going to be the case in Libya. It's right to point to the need for a political process when Gaddafi goes, and that of course is something we discuss with the National Transitional Council in Libya.
They have put forward their plans for that, for an interim government including figures from the regime, for the holding of elections and those are the right plans to put forward."
That's all very well, maybe. However, it may well take a lot more resources/military commitment to remove Gaddafi than are already in "play" there.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Final Pullout
The last contingent of British troops finally left Iraq this weekend, more than eight years after the invasion.
Was this all worth it?
Was this all worth it?
Monday, May 16, 2011
Campbell's Claims Contradicted
The Independent reports that in written evidence to the Chilcot inquiry, Maj-Gen Laurie (a former intelligence official) rejected Alastair Campbell's claim that the dossier was not intended to make the case for war:
"This was exactly its purpose and these very words were used."
Where to now for the Chilcot inquiry, given that "star" witnesses (eg Blair and Campbell) have given evidence that contradicts Maj-Gen Laurie?
Will they be recalled?
"This was exactly its purpose and these very words were used."
Where to now for the Chilcot inquiry, given that "star" witnesses (eg Blair and Campbell) have given evidence that contradicts Maj-Gen Laurie?
Will they be recalled?
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
The Age of Deception
The former chief UN nuclear inspector Mohamed ElBaradei has published a memoir ("The Age of Deception") in which he suggests that Bush administration officials should face international criminal investigation for the "shame of a needless war" in Iraq.
ElBaradei accuses US leaders of "grotesque distortion" in the run-up to the 2003 Iraq invasion.
Quote:
"..deliberate deception was not limited to small countries ruled by ruthless dictators.."
"The Age of Deception," is published today by Henry Holt and Company.
ElBaradei accuses US leaders of "grotesque distortion" in the run-up to the 2003 Iraq invasion.
Quote:
"..deliberate deception was not limited to small countries ruled by ruthless dictators.."
"The Age of Deception," is published today by Henry Holt and Company.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Arming The Libyan Rebels
Arming the Libyan "rebels" may be all very well (in theory) whilst Gaddafi is there to unite them against him. However, if he is removed, they will simply fracture along tribal and religious lines and use the weapons against each other and any Western troops placed on the ground as peacekeepers.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
The Coalition of The Unwilling
It would appear that we are now up to our eyes in yet another war in the Middle East, being waged by a coalition of the unwilling, which has no strategic goal nor by defintion means of detrmining when it is over.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Libya - Iraq II?
The enthusiasm for regime change in Libya displayed by the USA, UK and UN may well sound very "noble" when esposed by skilled political oratators.
However, if the UN succeeds in throwing Gaddafi out, who exactly is lined up to replace him and how long will troops be expected to be stationed there whilst "democracy" and a political infrastruture is installed?
Have we learned nothing from Iraq and Afghanistan?
However, if the UN succeeds in throwing Gaddafi out, who exactly is lined up to replace him and how long will troops be expected to be stationed there whilst "democracy" and a political infrastruture is installed?
Have we learned nothing from Iraq and Afghanistan?
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