In The Eyes Of The Younger Generation
Withdrawal of US troops from Iraq
US may reposition and mobilize these troops against Iran? Pervez Ahmed Withdrawing the US military troops from Iraq may seem like a humanitarian policy by 'change'-worshipping Barack Obama; it may look like a critical step of the US administration for the 'betterment' of the Middle East; but Morgenthau's 'Realism' still bites. After seven years of expensive and divisive 'illegal war' in Iraq, Obama has acknowledged that there comes a time when one has to choose between 'turning the page' or 'closing the book'. The US economy is now into the labyrinth of ailment; the three trillion-dollar war is not even worth extending to another trillion, and owing to other inevitable political mountings (North Korea and Iran, for instance), the problem is still the same with Iraq: can't stay in and can't get out. Beyond the politics, however, the withdrawal coincides with a continuing political standoff in Iraq, with no assurance that the alleged democratic regime there can hold up, even though a diminished but still dangerous Sunni insurgency smells like the 'classic failure' in Vietnam War. Hence, whatever the US does, Iraq will return to a dictatorship and will gift them with further wasted trillions of dollars in resources and precious lives of their military. So, the present US foreign policy merely is the sooner they get out of it, the better. But, then again, the US has nothing to 'do' or 'get' out of Iraq right now as the withdrawal is causing further catastrophe, leaving behind a prospect of a future Shiia - Sunni clash. Thus, what's in the aftermath? As it seems, it is not a total withdrawal from Iraq in reality but the US will be in the theater of war with their political, economic and military presence as well. The key question is whether the disengagement is only a preparation for the approaching mid-term election showcased to the people or just an attempt to renew the global image that 'Republicans commenced the unpopular war, but Democrats terminated it'. The US now requires new reasoning like the decline in the US presence in Iraq will surely increase its role in Afghanistan; that the policy of 'war against terror' is simply swing from Iraq to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Meanwhile, Iran has become the most important factor to the US and the foreign policy focus is shifting towards it. The US foreign policy now demands another 'set up war' like Iraq War, as a part of its political economy, a potential invasion of Iran subject to the availability and capacity of the troops, and also the tentative one - - public sentiment. Moreover, as Iran has the longest border with Iraq, the 'rational actor model' suggests that the US will reposition and mobilise their withdrawn troops against Iran, which is neighboring Pakistan and Afghanistan, to thwart Iran's nuclear ambition. It is now expected that the next conflict in the Middle East will be between the US and Iran with some influences from Israeli foreign policy in addition. Consequently, the withdrawal precisely seems like a precautionary step against a potential conflict.
US troops can intervene in Iraq anytime they want! Meherun Nesa In general the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq can be considered a right step and as the decision is taken as per the earlier announcement of the US president Barrack Obama on February 27, 2009 at Marine Corps Base Camp Lesjeune in North Carolina, so we can hope that the future decision about the full withdrawal of troops will also be taken on the basis of the announcement. But the vital point here is that eventually the decision is not certain at all. Because we have seen that US Army has taken part to meet the terrorist attack in Iraq on 5th of September 2010. It has proved that US troops can intervene in Iraq anytime they want. The US influence in this oil-rich country will not come to an end also. Their main intention is to have complete control over Iraqi oil, mainly to become a counter balancing force to the OPEC and weaken its sphere of influence in the international market which will also provide the US potent influence over China, India, Japan and Europe. Moreover, the US prefers a puppet government which would only protect US' vested interest in the region. If this continues then Iraq will witness a more unsteady future with the remaining US troops to protect America's interests in Iraq.
The war is now being privatized Shawon Shyla As a part of the formal termination of US combat missions in Iraq, the US has removed nearly 100,000 US troops from that country. Though shift in focus from Iraq to the state of US economy have been made, the speculation is about how Obama can somehow turn the subject around to the economy fully, which seems to be the nation's number one concern. The true cost of the Iraq war is $3 trillion and beyond. Though it has been asserted by the American president that Operation Iraqi Freedom is over, and the Iraqi people now have lead responsibility for the security of their country, it is questionable how far they can go. It has been suggested that the decision by the Sunni tribal leaders to abandon insurgency and work with the coalition forces is responsible for the turnaround. As the U.S. draws down in Iraq, it is leaving behind risks being undercut by the failure to form a government in Baghdad, and new casualty figures indicating an escalation in violence. The 50,000 troops left behind will not just sit there and do nothing, and let's not forget all those private army, "Blackwater mercenaries". It is alleged that there are more American Blackwater mercenaries left there than actual US forces and the war is now being privatized. However, it seems clear that without this war, America's standing in the world would have been better. People have not forgotten the bloodshed in Vietnam. US falcons' ghastly clutch made a havoc, but they had to come back with their wounded wings. The tragedy is that they have repeated the same mistake in Iraq. History repeats itself *Who knows what next? Iran or North Korea?
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