The Iraqi tango - USA/Terrorism
Editorial: 27/3/08
It seems to be getting harder to predict where the war in Iraq is heading; from the premature declaration of “Mission Accomplished” by U.S. President George W. Bush five years ago delivered in great pomp and circumstance aboard an aircraft carrier, to the more recent “surge” of U.S. forces on the ground which, along with a huge financial compensation package given to Sunni tribesmen, helped turn the tide of the war – albeit temporarily. The recent resurgence of large-scale violence tells another story and puts into question the policy applied so far. From the Easter Sunday rocket and mortar attack on the fortress-like Green Zone, to the mini-war being waged between Moqtada Sadr’s Mahdi Army and pro-government forces, recent developments give reason to believe that the mission is still very far from being accomplished. For every surge forward by the coalition in trying to bring about a similitude of democracy in the country, forces opposed to the U.S. efforts have come up with just as effective counter-measures. Reviewing the last five years, the conflict in Iraq resembles a morbid tango: one step forward and two steps back.
See: http://www.metimes.com/Editorial/2008/03/27/editorial the_iraqi _tango/9934/