We will have to re-think our strategy towards Syria; support the
Iraqi Government in beating back the insurgency; whilst making it clear
that Iraq’s politics will have to change for any resolution of the
current crisis to be sustained. Then we need a comprehensive plan for
the Middle East that correctly learns the lessons of the past decade. In
doing so, we should listen to and work closely with our allies across
the region, whose understanding of these issues is crucial and who are
prepared to work with us in fighting the root causes of this extremism
which goes far beyond the crisis in Iraq or Syria.It is inevitable that events in Mosul have led to a re-run of the arguments over the decision to remove Saddam Hussein in 2003. The key question obviously is what to do now. But because some of the commentary has gone immediately to claim that but for that decision, Iraq would not be facing this challenge; or even more extraordinary, implying that but for the decision, the Middle East would be at peace
right now; it is necessary that certain points are made forcefully before putting forward a solution to what is happening now.
3/4 years ago Al Qaida in Iraq was a beaten force. The country had massive challenges but had a prospect, at least, of overcoming them. It did not pose a threat to its neighbours. Indeed, since the removal of Saddam, and despite the bloodshed, Iraq had contained its own instability mostly within its own borders.
Though the challenge of terrorism was and is very real, the sectarianism of the Maliki Government snuffed out what was a genuine opportunity to build a cohesive Iraq. This, combined with the failure to use the oil money to re-build the country, and the inadequacy of the Iraqi forces have led to the alienation of the Sunni community and the inability of the Iraqi army to repulse the attack on Mosul and the earlier loss of Fallujah. And there will be debate about whether the withdrawal of US forces happened too soon
No comments:
Post a Comment