Toronto Sun
by Eric Margolis

07/31/05

Is there light at the end of the Iraq tunnel? This week, U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. George Casey, told reporters 'fairly substantial' U.S. troop withdrawals could begin next spring. The Bush administration has read America's political tea leaves: It sees mounting domestic opposition to what is increasingly seen as a failed war. Republicans worry the debacle in Iraq and rising U.S. casualties may hurt them severely in the 2008 elections. ... The Pentagon's strategic plan for Iraq calls for four major air bases from which U.S. mobile, rapid-reaction units and air power will permanently control Iraq and the entire oil-rich Mideast. Imperial Britain once followed the same strategy in Iraq. ... Under present circumstances, U.S. efforts to get Iraqis to fight and die to defend the U.S.-run Baghdad regime will be even less successful than was 'Vietnamization' in the 1970s. In fact, Iraqi regime forces appear to be falling apart faster than they can be mobilized. Iraqization shows no sign of working. This means U.S. forces will have to remain indefinitely in Iraq to prop up the isolated, embattled pro-American regime -- just what's happening in that other failed war in Afghanistan...

http://torontosun.canoe.ca/News/Columnists/Margolis_Eric/2005/07/31/1154103.html


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp