The Other Side of Afghanistan

War Polarizes Sides in Proxy Battle
 

By D. LINDLEY YOUNG , C. J. CLARKE and VALDANA GUNNELL
THE MODERN TRIBUNE
April 1, 2003
 

WASHINGTON, D. C. (4/1) -While some boasted of a quick US victory before the war started, others warned of the potential to incite Mideast turmoil, if not world war. The latter appears to be more likely at this point. Now, after our course is indelibly set by the invasion of Iraq, warnings about a lengthy war resound with a repeated message that unconditional surrender is the only way to stop the war. This may mean fighting many other nations in one way or another for a long time.

Sides appear to be polarizing in the Iraq war.  Although Iraq is overwhelmingly outmatched by US military force, Iraqi resistance has been termed as "stiff."  We may be fighting more than the Iraqis.

Support for Iraq appears to be increasing from other countries. The reason for the Iraq support is simple, they may be next. So, support for Iraq may a war of proxy in the same way the US backed Afghanistan in the war against the Soviet Union.

The line in the sand.

The Bush "with us or against us" policy is compelling a division of the world. Shortly after the war on Iraq started, Bush warned the world that those that are "wise" are with the US and against Iraq. The implication was that if you were not with the US you were not "wise," and, as it is evolving, the unwise will be targets in US war sites. 

Bush has a long list of "rogue" nations which probably grows as more and more express opposition to the Bush invasion of Iraq. It appears that all who disagree with Bush are "rogue" nations.

The campaign for more wars is under way. Last Friday, Syria and Iran have been put on notice that there will be consequences to them for supporting Iraq. In an unusual statement, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld publicly warned Syria and Iran that their actions in assisting Iraq would be considered as endangering US troops and they would be considered as combatants. Rumsfeld may have signaled who would be the next US target: specifically saying Syria "will be held responsible."

On Sunday, the campaign for a possible widening of the war continued. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell demanded Syria decide whether it wants to risk supporting Iraq. In a Sunday night speech to a Jewish group, Powell accused Syria of providing "direct support for terrorist groups and the dying regime of Saddam Hussein." Powell accented, "Syria ... now faces a critical choice." Powell stated, "Syria can continue to direct support for terrorist groups and the dying regime of Saddam Hussein, or it can embark on a different and more hopeful course. Either way, Syria has the responsibility for its choices and for the consequences."

Syrian response was swift. Today, Syrian Foreign Ministry made clear their choice by stating it hoped to "see the invaders defeated in Iraq." This was consistent with the position of Syrian leadership. Recently, Syrian President Basdhar Assad called upon Arab regimes to oppose the US-led war against Iraq and called for suicide missions against US forces in Iraq. Assad has indicated that Syria will not just sit back and wait to be "next."

The pre-Syrian war justifications have already begun. The media has repeatedly asserted that it is believed Saddam has hidden WMD in Syria.

With respect to Iran, which Bush has denounced as a member of an "axis of evil" along with Iraq and North Korea, Powell said in his Sunday speech that Iran must stop its  support of terrorism against Israel and "Iran must stop its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and the ability to produce them.''

Setting the stage

Bush has set the stage for his “I'll get you first” war policy and it is polarizing the world. This "you’re next" war flaunted by Bush is an incubator for creating enemies. It appears designed to alienate and to polarize in order to justify expansion of the war and most of the world knows this.  It is as though Bush is trying to provoke global conflict. Some argue that Bush is deliberately creating circumstances for a war that has far greater ambition than disarming Iraq.

In addition to Syria and Iran, other countries are taking strong positions. On Sunday Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt toughened his position against the war in Iraq. Speaking at a meeting of his liberal VKD party in the city of Antwerp, Verhofstadt denounced the US as "very dangerous." Belgian RTL TV quoted him saying, "America, a power deeply injured, and has become very dangerous, and it thinks to take over the whole Arab world."                            
 

To compound problems created by the "you’re next" Bush diplomacy; Bush specifically named seven nations last year to a "first strike nuclear hit list." Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, and Cuba were among those included on the list of elite targets. The nuclear hit list cannot be forgotten by those on it.

The situation is at best volatile.

Islamic Jihad says it has sent thousands of suicide bombers to fight the US. Many Islamic religious followers had called for Jihad against the US if the US attacked Iraq. Terrorist attacks are on the increase since the invasion of Iraq started. Iraq says it will now use all means to fight what it calls US aggression and will use suicide bombers for that purpose. Saddam gave two medals to an Iraqi soldier who took part in the first Iraqi supported suicide bombing directed at US military. Four US soldiers were killed in that attack at a check point.  

Seven missiles have dropped on Saudi Arabia, at least two on Iran, and the US blew away a bus while trying to destroy a bridge in Syria. If one did not know better, it would appear the US is trying to provoke a war beyond Iraq.

Bush recently warned Russia about selling weapons to Iraq. Silk missiles made in China were used in a strike against Kuwait. Weapons from Jordan have been reported in Iraq. Pakistan warns about serious divisions caused by the Bush war while there are reports that Pakistan is buying weapons from North Korea. Thousands of Iraqi exiles return from other countries to fight for their country.

Those who may be "next" will stiffen support for Iraq. This resistance will prove the "rogue" nature of the opposition and will provide the Bush war enthusiasts opportunities to expand the war. The tactics of suicide bombers against the greatest military might will be used to justify the war as well as expand it. The US move for global domination under the guise of liberation is likely impacting the policies of certain nations as they are forced to determine when and where they will fight their war against the US. They must fight at some time or wait knowing they could be "next."

The new American century is here.
 

The new American century is here. Plans for expansion of the war have been on the table for a long time. (See, Project New American Century (PNAC), Letter to Clinton  dated January 2, 1998, Pres. Bush "Top Secret" Memo to Pentagon  dated September 17, 2001 ordering preparation for war on Iraq, Article entitled "Secret US plan for Iraq war"  from The Guardian dated December 2, 2001, "Might and Morality," A Strategy  for World Dominance by The Modern Tribune.)

The world is well aware of US plans to pursue a Bush proclaimed call from God and history to rid the world of "evildoers." The search for evil is much more than the Salem Witch Hunts or McCarthyism. The world is its target. The plan is having results.

The "you’re next" and "you are a suspect" approach to foreign policy and diplomacy will yield consequences. Bush has pushed the world into a corner along with Saddam Hussein. There appears no exit other than submission to Bush dominance – or unconditional surrender.

People and countries that may not otherwise enter the fray would rather deter what many believe to be US aggression by supporting Iraq. It is only logical that sovereign nations would rather stop Bush while in Iraq than deal with Bush when he comes for them.

Preventive war to create cycle of violence

The preventive war doctrine of the Bush administration appears more a vehicle to create enemies in order to justify war than to protect America. It seems to be working. The world is clearly divided with an ever-widening global conflict unveiling.

Anyone that is aware of PNAC would be convinced that the setting for multiple wars in multiple theaters is no accident. America world "leadership" (domination) by "military means” has been a plan that PNAC has been patiently and methodically pursuing since 1997. The stage is set for the PNAC plan for multiple wars to provide, as Bush calls it, “God's gift of democracy to the world.” The package for this gift is thousands and thousands of sorties, "shock and awe," and mushroom clouds above burning cities.

If the US starts going house to house in the streets of Baghdad like Israel did in the West Bank and Gaza, resistance and hatred for America will increase, if that is possible.  Guerilla warfare with terror-type tactics will undoubtedly multiply as civilian casualties increase.  This will lead to harsher US reaction.  Retaliation to US aggression will result in retaliation by resistance forces. If the US follows the Israeli model, the US response will become even more brutal -- all of this spiraling into greater and greater expansion of the war.

Opportunity now knocks for the neo-con hawks. And like the monkey clinching the food through the hole in the gourd, they would rather be caught than let go.

Please

The Modern Tribune.