Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Iraqi civil war threatens region

Aljazeera.Net - Iraqi civil war threatens region: "As'ad AbuKhalil: The repercussions of the Iraq debacle are very likely to affect more places in the Middle East, not less. There is now an explosion, literally, of militant fanatical groups that are bent on destroying the ties of amity and brotherhood between Sunnis and Shia. One can see that this was effective.

The latest International Crisis Group [report] points out the cynical and destructive ways by which the US administration manipulated Iraqi social, sectarian, ethnic, and tribal divisions for its own sake.

Having failed to shore up support for its favourite 'secular' clients, the US occupation armed and empowered lethal sectarian Shia groups that were bent on revenge.

'Bush, far from being remembered for establishing democracy in Iraq, will most likely be remembered as the man who brought ayatollahs' rule to Iraq, next door to Iran'

On the other side, [wanted Jordanian al-Qaida leader Abu Musab] al-Zarqawi and company found in Iraq the environment that existed in Afghanistan under the Taliban.

For such groups, the ability to register theological and ideological points on a land under US troops was too tempting.

This explains the influx of militant radicals from the entire Middle East. Ironically, the model of 'democracy' and 'secularism' that [George] Bush and the neo-conservatives were planning in Iraq had degenerated into a model of mayhem, pillage, and plunder, and the ayatollahs rule in all but name.

Bush, far from being remembered for establishing democracy in Iraq, will most likely be remembered as the man who brought ayatollahs' rule to Iraq, next door to Iran.

The ayatollahs' regional empire will have Bush's footprints on it. The region as a whole will continue to be affected."

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