Opinion | Editorials
Blurred US plans hamper Iraq's growth
Washington does not have any answers as to how long its occupation will last.
- Gulf News
- Published: 00:28 April 10, 2008
On the fifth anniversary of the fall of Baghdad, the ground reality in Iraq could no longer tolerate indefinite answers, vague policies, and blurred action plans as far as the future of the country is concerned. Iraq should by now have progressed in attaining the foundations of a democratic state, governed by the rule of law and not be characterised by instability under the rule of occupation.
Recent comments of senior American officials indicate the lack of a long-term plan in Iraq. Gen. David Petraeus, US Commander in Iraq, announced his intention to stop US troop withdrawals in July because of the "fragile" security gains. "We haven't turned any corners; we haven't seen any lights at the end of the tunnel... And the progress, while real, is fragile and is reversible," said Petraeus in his testimony to the US Senate armed services committee.
But the question here is not about reducing the 160,000 US troops by about a third by the end of George W. Bush's presidential term. Confining the debate to the number of troops staying in or leaving Iraq is an immature simplification of the matter.
The American administration today does not have any definitive answers as to how long its endeavours in Iraq will last. Neither does it bring to the fore a detailed roadmap that addresses in detail how the country is to rebuild its future, attain stability, and bring about a conclusive end to the cycle of violence.
It is dangerous to have a situation that is open-ended and without any definitive solutions or answers. A state as such would prove costly for the Iraqi people on the political as well as the humanitarian levels. That an American policy is in disarray is critical - but that the policy is without any plans for the future is fatally disastrous.
More from Editorials
More from Opinions
Opinion Editor's choice
-
Egyptians must reject foreign meddling
By Tariq Ramadan, Special to Gulf News
Presidential election may turn out to be less a new chapter in a democratic future than an old chapter complete with a stage-managed outcome
-
Moderates may gift Egypt to Islamists
By Linda S. Heard, Special to Gulf News
Liberals cannot afford to sit at home or in cafes watching queues lengthen outside polling stations. They must quit complaining and vote with their feet
-
Is Al Maliki serious about democracy and more words?
By Mohammad Akef Jamal, Special to Gulf News
He is pushing towards a military showdown with the Kurds at a time when they are stronger than ever before
Your turn
