By Fareed Zakaria, CNN
Critics of the U.S. drawdown in Iraq claim that we are foregoing hard-won gains - years of blood, toil and tears - by getting out now. This is what Liz Cheney said on Fox the other day. I disagree. Let’s review the gains of the Iraq War: You have an Iraq that is not ruled by a brutal, tyrannical dictator, Saddam Hussein; you have some kind of democracy in Iraq; and the Kurds have been given an even greater measure of autonomy.
These are all important developments but they are not core security gains for the United States. And they are not really threatened by our leaving.
The original goals of the Iraq War were to rid Iraq of weapons of mass destruction and to change the dynamics of the Middle East. We now know that WMDs did not exist. Historians will debate whether the Iraq War changed the dynamics of the Middle East more broadly. I think it did have an impact but it was part of a broader trend after 9/11 when America began reducing its support for dictators like Mubarak. Those moves were probably more important than Iraq.
Moving forward we can be sure that no matter what happens in Iraq, the future of Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia will be determined by none other than the Moroccans, Egyptians and Tunisians. If Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki becomes more dictatorial, does anyone really think that will affect what’s happening in Egypt?
Another great concern with the drawdown is that Iraq will become a pawn of Iran. This is not an insignificant concern. But if the worry is Iranian influence, the time to have addressed it was when we invaded Iraq in the first place. The United States empowered Shia exiles that had spent nearly a decade in Iran. The Bush Administration made significant mistakes in allowing too much Iranian influence in Iraq, all while professing to be highly anti-Iranian. I don’t think it was intentional; it was just one in a series of blunders the Bush Administration made in Iraq.
Nevertheless, I don’t think Iraq will become a pawn of Iran in the wake of the American drawdown. National interest always drives foreign policy and Iraq has its own sense of nationalism. In the Iraqi imagination, Iran is not a friendly big brother. Iran is the country against which Iraq fought an eight-year war. Iraq lost hundreds of thousands of people in that war. A foreign policy seen as ceding Iraqi interests to Iran today would not be very popular among Iraqis.
So the question becomes whether this drawdown is too fast and too complete. Would it have been better if a few thousand American troops stayed behind? Possibly. But that proved difficult for domestic political reasons within Iraq. And it misses the larger point, which is that the drawdown is actually very beneficial for American foreign policy.
As I wrote in August on GPS, the U.S. needs to transition to a foreign policy in which its core interests can be preserved without occupying vast swathes of land and nation building in difficult societies. America’s foreign policy must take advantage of the fact that it is a distant power with a flexible, high-tech military. America should focus on protecting itself through targeted counterterrorism measures. It should leverage the flexibility and political space that it gains by not being an occupying force. This will make the U.S. far stronger and safer in the long run than sitting in Iraq trying to control more real estate.
For more of my thoughts throughout the week, I invite you to follow me on Facebook and Twitter and to visit the Global Public Square every day.
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Why are you giving Liz Cheney any creditibilty? Just because she's on Fox News?
Well I don't think Fareed is writing this in response to Liz Cheney. This philosophy is popular among the right wing, I mean John McCain called it one of the biggest mistakes of the decade or something along those lines. I think it's just a response to the right wing, and her quote just happen to be a little more colorful than others.
Still, ....
Saddam never had WMD's, First blunder. The whole war was poorly managed from the begining along with disbanding the Iraqi Army was another blunder. We also supported saddam before during the 80's supporting him when he invaded Iran providing him with chemical weapons which he used during that conflict.
The Iraqis dont want us there, the war there is over, all we can do is work with the Iraqis through diplomacy and let them determin their own future. If the republicans want to complain about it, their war mongering took the lives of thousands of american service members and untold numbers suffering from PTSD along with makeing us more unsafe and making more enemies to fight against
Why do Dick Cheney and Newt Gingrich both have lesbian daughters ? Hmmmmmmmm Does not take a rocket scientist to figure that out. ( not that there is anything wrong with that )
the US went to war with Iraq then did not find any weapons of mass destruction. so the US found it a chance to bring US companies, Haliburton, Bechtel, etc and blackwater to protect their business.
after ridding of saddam husein, iranian melitia started civil war and took control of the government. now the US found this out now that their debt is more that 14 trillion dollars and they want to attack iran, iran captured a US drone recently. the attack is mainly requested by israel who fear its existence since its not welcomed in the region. the forces are now the NATO against Russia China Iran Iraq Syria and hisbollah.
best regards
Under Saddam – Sunni – nationalism was strong. Now the Iraqis' nascent sense of belonging is still rather parochial. In light of the sectarian conflicts, it will take years for all ethnic groups be united. Indeed the Shia Muslims in Iraq are Arabs and they want to shun Iran's influence over them.
If the Iraqi parliment could not agree upon the legal status of US soldiers there and did not expand an invitation for base rights which we get from other countries: like the Seychelles,Australia for example; it is the honorable and respectful thing to do but to leave. We are not Darth Vader's Empire and it is time for the Iraqis to stand up for themselves. This crap that Saddam ran the trains on times is insanity. He invaded neighboring countries, used chemical weapons, and in a 60 minutes interview with Morley Safer ; Saddam told his American debriefer in captivity before he was hanged that he would pursue acquiring WMD's again. Look it up on You Tube! He
If one is going to get technical also. Saddam violated the cease fire terms of Desert Storm constantly during the 1990's and 2000-2002 by firing surface to air missiles and anti aircraft fire at coalition aircraft patrolling the designated no fly zones in north of iraq to protect the kurds and the south of iraq to protect the shias.
first off, you have no idea what your talking about. We didnt attack Iran, we sent a spy drone to probably examine their nuclear sites which we should do. Second Iraq did have WMD's he didnt have nukes but biological weapons and scuds are extremely dangerous weapons.
you are wrong there where in WMDs, i was there looking for them ,we knew from gulf 1 there where none. all lies by GW and dick, poor powell he was duped into this by these nuts. i wish we where part of the international court, see where I'm going. Obama was right ot pull us out. by the way what happened to all that money we sent thme?
Somehow doubt that you will ever get the opportunity to debate this on Fox News. More's the pity.
Fareed:
The missing piece of these discussions is the Iraqi perspective on continued US (or any foreign power's) involvement in the operation of their country. Iraqi tolerance for continued US involvement eroded rapidly throughout summer 2008, parallel with growing Iraqi self-confidence.
Like any relative's visit, by the time the SOFA was executed, it was just time for the US to go-leave the cities, back out of US led engagements, and plan and effect your departure.
All these discussions about what the US coulda, shoulda, woulda done make no sense whatsoever to an Iraqi. This includes the foreboding and inexplicable Embassy Baghdad operation.
Better to just move on, and let Iraqis face their unresolved problems. They are not uneducated "infidels" in need of our further guidance.
Mr. Donnelly,
You point is spot on. Mr. Zakaria buys easily into the American propaganda that American interest is everyone’s interest. Or perhaps he is obligated by the editorial department to refer only to American interest. It is this American arrogance and declaration of superiority that makes it difficult for their foreign policy makers to see the forest through the trees.
It is interesting that no one talks about the cost of continuing to stay and whether that would be financed by raising taxes or adding to the deficit. I am surprised that there is so little discussion of the amount that was added to the national debt by having the war(s). I was disappointed that Matt Lauer did not ask those questions of McCain this morning.
I am glad we are mostly out of IRAQ. That part of this world has been a quagmire to our foreign policy. We need to address our challenges domestically and in the Western Hemisphere. Let us become energy self-sufficient. Let us return to the Monroe Doctrine.
What a surprisingly thoughtful group of comments, without name-calling or other silliness. Personally, I think Liz Cheney is a serious thinker who deserves respect, but I also think she is mistaken in criticizing the U.S. withdrawal. It's time for U.S. troops to leave Iraq. Eight years is long enough.
If nothing else, the removal of U.S. forces from Iraq eliminates a target of opportunity for Iran. No longer will the Iranians be able to export IED's to Iraq to kill American troops. That will actually give the U.S. a freer hand in deciding how to deal with Iran, once the Iranians can no longer strike back at our people so easily.
I'm rather surprised that you or anyone here would consider Liz Cheney a serious thinker. She definitely has opinions, but doesn't seem any more informed than anyone else at the state department – which she left some time ago. What she has really shown herself to be is an unbelievably extreme idealogue and a formidable tag team attack dog for her father. She is incapable of addressing any one of the many horrible consequences that her father's war wrought for this country and therefore has no credibility whatsoever. You're absolutely right though about our exodus eliminating a target of opportunity for Iran. It might also diminish the stature of shiite extremists like al Sadr. There was no way a continued military presence there was going to mitigate Iranian political influence, probably the opposite. We can probably sit back and watch the Iranians overplay their hand in meddling in Iraq (not unlike what al quaida did) which will spur the Iraqis to strengthen their democracy and become more independent, which is what we want anyway. Besides, we don't need to be there to provide security so that Chinese oil companies can come in and safely extract oil, yet another result of Cheney's war.
Clearly it did not go as planned. The Iraqi people are not ready for democracy. There are too many people who are willing to maintain the chaos until the US left so that they could grab power. Now the real fighting will begin.
It's a shame it didn't work out and sad that so many lost lives in the process. I am glad that our men and women will no longer have to sacrifice for such little gain.
We did the right thing in getting rid of the butcher of Baghdad. We are doing the right thing in ending the occupation as it is up to the Iraqi people now. We have provided the spark of democracy in the middle east, and it has caught fire.
"Butcher Of Baghdad" as you call Saddam Hussein, managed to have security, electricity, medical care, social welfare to the impoverished Iraqi people. He did not kill 600,000 civilians as the we, the liberators did, nor did he allow Al Qaeda or any other terrorist to be in Iraq during his rule. He was used by us to be a counter force against Iran. Now look what happens after the "liberators" left.
No, I don't think we went to Baghdad to install justice and liberty for the Iraqi people. We did it for two main reasons: Oil, and Israel. All the rest is just pure bs.
100K, not 600K. Inflate your numbers much?
You forgot to note that Saddam is a dictator and killed his own people. You may not understand this because you have never lived in a country under a repressive regime. To underestimate this fact is to miss the whole point of getting rid of a dictator. To the people who have been liberated from dictatorship, this is the be all and end all. All the other issues can be worked out by the Iraqis themselves in the framework of a free society. So the Americans already left. It's time for the Iraqis to step up to the plate and build a decent society. They can do this and they will. But let's not forget, it is with blood and treasure that this became a possibility. Thank God for America.
We did not do the "right thing" at all. The Iraq war was entered into with false and wishful thinking about WMD, and did NOT satisfy the "Just War Theory" or any other ethically correct reason for war. These are the true facts, one may spin them all they like but the bottom line is our invasion of Iraq was not right and was not supported by the international community. And we went into deep debt by this ignorant war (and Afghanistan war) and everyone blames Obama for the bad economy. Do we have selective amnesia?
Getting rid of Saddam was a nobel idea. But Presidents cant work on nobel ideas alone. It is imperitive to ensure that if you are going to do it, do it right.
Bush thought that if he took out Saddam the people of Iraq would fall down at his feet and and world peace would be achieved. Talk about wishful thinking. This is unacceptable in a President. It is important to believe in what you do, but what he failed to do was prepare for worst case scenarios, the ulitmate duty of a leader.
When it became clearer and clearer to me that war in Iraq was inevitable. I had two misgivings.
One: I was worried that the war in Iraq would become a diversion for Afghanistan where we would take our eyes off of insuring that the country was safe and the countries infrustructure was built up to a point where the people would see the benefits of removing the Taliban from power. Thus removing any platform they or others could use to undo the work done to free the people.
two: I was worried that we were not commited to ensuring the freeing of Iraq would be completely successful. The first bad sign I saw was the firing of the General who wanted more troops to ensure the action would be successful. You can not wipe out an infrastructure and assume that everything will be fine. If we had the 400,000 troups from the beginning, we might have given insurgents pause before acting. In which time much of the infrastructure could have been repaired. Again removing the oppositions room to stir up discontent.
On every turn, Bush proved he was not up to the job. All my fears were confirmed. Sorry to admit it, but at this point, there is not much more we can do but admit defeat and learn from our mistakes. (Hard to be optimistic we will learn from what should have been common sense the first time).
In six months the country will be eyeball-deep in civil war. In seven months a dictator will rise up and promise to bring peace. And the cycle will begin again...
Of course I don't mean to say that the US should still be in Iraq – far from it. But the Middle East is tribally-based and neither wants nor understands democracy – that's a Western concept, and is NOT one-size-fits-all. The West's arrogance is that it believes that since democracy works in the US (which it doesn't), it should work everywhere.
Give it six months – maybe less – and we'll see how right that assertion is.
Blah blah blah blah! The main question here is when are GWB, Dick Cheyney and cabinet and the GOP going to be sent over to the ICC in the Hague to be tried for Iraqi war crimes???
We need to Occupy and we need to occupy now. Corporate America is out of control.
It doesn't matter what Zakaria thinks, it doesn't matter what Liz or any of the Cheney's think – the Iraqis want us out. Time to go.
SKR that dictator will be called the 12th imam or the anti-christ and will unite China, Latin America, and all of the middle east to war against the west
It's a common pattern in the Arab world:
The people who want to be in power wreak havok until the population is so desparate for safety, that they are willing to tolerate and follow any government.
Then the radicals promise that they can bring peace – which they can – because they are the ones causing the death and destruction.
And the population just doesn't care anymore – the bad guys win.
It's a blueprint used all over the Muslim world.
It's an amazing coincidence that the individuals that want the U.S. to stay in Iraq, don't have any relatives in the military. It's always easier to send someone else there when you don't have anything to lose.
I agree. All the people who want to keep troops in Iraq should have to pay for that in addition to their normal taxes and also send either their children or themselves over there.
The military is the military. That is their job to defend this country. Trying to keep them home defeats the purpose of them joining. Its not a 9-5, nor should it be treated as such. One war ends, they come home, then another begins and they depart. To expect our troops to stay home and be safe is not only unrealistic, its ignorant. They sign up for a dangerous job when they join the Armed Forces, which is why it is voluntary. People who want the troops to stay in Iraq probably believe that the mission is not finished, whether that is true or not it has nothing to do with the lack of compassion for the soldiers who serve. Soldiers fight, it is what they get paid to do. You can't expect them to stay home and be with their families at all times. If that were the case you wouldn't have the freedoms you have today.
The job of the US military in Iraq is not to defend any country including the USA itself. They were there to invade a country.
Send the Pres. a message that we do not want war with Iran.
http://wh.gov/DQp
I believe a war with Iran is necessary. They are becoming more and more volatile with their pursuit of nuclear weapons. The world can not afford to have Iran develop these weapons because they will definitely attempt to use them for an attack on the United States as well as other Western civilatzations they view as "Evil". Unfortunately, wars have to occur in order to protect our freedom and national security. The world is not a peacful place, and in order to protect ourselves we must fight. Its the American way. How do you think you recieved the freedom do sit behind that computer and make whatever statements you want? Fighting is part of life. We have to fight for these freedoms. Im sure you have heard this before, Freedom isn't Free. Just be thankful you live in the Nation with the strongest militray on this planet.
You thirst for blood~
Zakaria, I admire your sense of Judgment ! In addition am grateful to the most high that America exist . Iraq is a sovereign state, they know whats good for their people. should they need American help, for sure , let them request. whatever the outcome the absence of American soldiers will cause the Iraqis , is worth experiencing for the Iraqis to learn and solve their internal issues. Those who do not see the psychological importance of the draw-down, should know that Iraqis are not stupid. I assure them that no dictator will survive in Iraq, not in my life time.
The Iraqis obviously have low regard for the Americans are eager to see the Americans leave.
Well, if Iraq descends into anarchy and violence, and if corrupt, cruel and violent leaders (like Saddam Hussein) resume control of Iraq, I wonder if this will change their thinking.
Yes the Iraqis want us to leave , but I would not assume that they hold US in poor regard. These 2 thoughts are not exclusive. I love my mentor, but once I am capable enough I would like for him/her to back off and fly out on my own. Think about it.. If you were an Iraqi under Saddam, why would you not be happy that the US got rid of him. Yes, that does not mean that you now let US occupy you and try to tell you what to do with your resources, society, education etc etc
My heart goes out to the poor, decent people of Iraq, now that the Americans are leaving. For I feat that they will, once again, be at the mercy of evil and corrupt leaders.
I'm sure that the criminals,thugs and corrupt politicians are delighted, however.
The only thing that's certain here is that Iraq has been reduced from a sovereign Muslim country in 2003 to a mere satellite state of the United States of America today while the big U.S. Corporations steal that country's oil and will continue to do so in the forseeable future. Good job or should I say, SIEG HEIL???
You're an idiot!
US build 80 acre embassy citadel ( size of entire Vatican City) in Baghdad...to suck oil for 100 years...now why is she idiot? u r a moron!
The top five sources of US crude oil imports for September were Canada (2,324 thousand barrels per day), Saudi Arabia (1,465 thousand barrels per day), Mexico (1,099 thousand barrels per day), Venezuela (759 thousand barrels per day) and Nigeria (529 thousand barrels per day). The rest of the top ten sources, in order, were Colombia (510 thousand barrels per day), Iraq (403 thousand barrels per day), Ecuador (299 thousand barrels per day), Angola (283 thousand barrels per day) and Russia (275 thousand barrels per day). I dont see Iraq at the top of the list, its Canada, which will be increasing in the future. And I am certain new developments are coming to further decrease our need for oil, thats what Americans hope to see, get out of the Middle East so we cant be accused of being there for oil .2/3 of that oil is for fuel.
I am so tired of John McCain. He thinks that, because he was an heroic P.O.W., he's a military genius - and the media lets him get away with it. Why are his views rarely challenged? He thinks that making a total wiithdrawal from Iraq is potentially dangerous to this county. What about the real danger he could have brought upon us by picking an idiot like Sarah Palin as a running mate in 2008. To borrow an Iraq cliche, talk about the Mother of Poor Judgment.
What amazes is that after losing 4500 of my fellow brothers and sisters in Iraq. Is the expectation for us to sit there and waste precious resources like we have over the past 8 years, money, materiel and lives, for the sole purpose of protecting Iraq from Iran. We are leaving Iraq. Period dot com!! We are not leaving the region. Repubs, get over it! If McCain and any other Republican want us there, they can go and stay for themselves. I did 3 tours, it's time to move on.
"You have an Iraq that is not ruled by a brutal, tyrannical dictator"
...How many brutal dictators are we in bed with and Never attacked Saudi Arabia for 911, when 19 hijackers were Saudi Citizens...and the rulers of all UAE are dictators and brutal sheikhdoms...why didn't we ever free those people. Is this because Carlyle Corporation is siphoning $$$$!
Fareed , the USA doesn't want democracy in the ME.It never was the plan in Iraq either.It would be ruled by a pro-consul Bremer who would slowly guide in a American puppet ruler.Plans got disrupted by mass uprisings especially among the Shia's demanding elections.This desire to prevent democracy is because if real democracy is allowed in the ME American influence would be greatly diminished.This is due to the fact that on the "Arab street" the USA is about as popular as North Korea.Even Iran is more popular on the "Arab street" then the USA.The ME containing the "greatest material prize" in history due to the oil fields, control of the "spigot" was considered of enormous strategic importance.Control these energy reserves and one largely controls the world providing the USA with "veto" power over any possible industrial rival.This has guided US foreign policy towards the ME since WW1 and continues to guide it.The Arab uprisings can be (barely) tolerated up to a point and that is where it starts to infect the Saudi's or the Gulf states where most of the oil is located.I wouldn't be surprised if the US sends in troops if the Saudi regime becomes threatened in some way.
Recently corporations that won in auctions to work the oil fields represented a diverse group of nations, including Angola, Malaysia, Turkey and China. They were vying for 20-year service contracts that will pay them a fee for each barrel they produce above a government-set baseline.While ExxonMobil and other American-based oil companies registered for the auction, none came away with a development deal. But both ExxonMobil and California-based Occidental Petroleum are part of groups that have recently won oil field deals in Iraq.Despite what are expected to be slim profit margins for the companies, the auction’s biggest winners appeared to be Petronas, a state-owned Malaysian company that was part of three separate consortiums that won the rights to three fields; Sonangol, an Angolan company that will develop two fields; and Lukoil, the Russian oil company, which won the rights to part of the West Qurna field in southern Iraq, the most sought prize of the auction.American companies are sending workers and equipment to Iraq for reconstruction in the fields."Iraqi government officials interviewed said they had never heard of either those companies or of other American ones that have become household names in the United States because of their work in Iraq"
The pros and cons of the American withdrawal from Iraq is neither here nor there. The US lost over 4500 troops with tens of thousands injured in the process and $1 TRILLION spent!!. With America's financial position,i would think the Obama bashers would praise him for keeping his promise of bringing the troops home to their families!.
hahahaha getting out... my ars...does anyone talks about US build 80 acre embassy citadel ( size of entire Vatican City) in Baghdad...to suck oil for 100 years...
You gotta pay for the Citidel somehow? We can't take it with us?
Why is Fareed not Secretary of State or the policy maker at the white house?!
To all those complaining about how the US is stealing from Iraq..
You wanted us out – we're out
The rest is up to you. Put on the big boy pants and create the country you want. Quit blaming the US for every injustice you have. If you don't stop the fighting, a dictator will be your fate.
It's up to you now. Good luck.
It doesn't matter. The Iraqi Army, the Iraqi Police, no one can stop the insurgents. As long as people are willing to blow themselves up to create mass casualties there will always be turmoil.
hi
Hi guys, I am sad because I can see that chinese all people are teached in schools, they have it in themself after that and in souls to attack empire of USA and democrative countries, for example such people work in American corporations and even wish for them all the best and dont like such country they do that firm after some time collapse. I think about bank in USA that crisis some years ago, recently troubles of American airlines. Just please CIA and ither police and solders that on the borders of also USA prepare special machine which will distroy all such behaviour.
Barack Obama I am sad because I dont know how I helped America till this time I wrote something in some places, I cry because of it.
I can see Barack Obama that you in soul dont want to be President of USA next time.
Hi FBA I please you to create website with television it not must be CNN that people will write some opinion which will not be watch by chinese and spys,
What foreign policy?
Obama is the captain of a ship, that is adrift, without a pilot.
Did Saddam Hussein need to be gone? Yes. Was it worth all the brave American soldiers who died in getting rid of him and rebuilding Iraq? I'm not so sure, I don't think a million Iraqi lives were worth A SINGLE one of those brave men who died or was maimed! As an example, when our soldiers pulled out of Fallujah, was there a celebration of thanks? NO they burned and stomped on our flag. Did many Iraqi officials show up at the ceremony to formally take down the flag just this past week? NO, not a single senior official showed up, not al-Maliki, none of his senior cabinet, none of them, what a bunch of punks. I WISH that as a Christmas present we could give the Iraqi people ONE week of rule like it was under Saddam Hussein, just as a special little treat all for them so maybe, just MAYBE they can figure out how lucky they were to get rid of him, but I doubt it, they are too stupid. I believe we had honorable intentions, bad intelligence, a President too ready to pull the trigger, and a bunch of ungrateful animals who perhaps in retrospect we should have just bombed the entire place into the stone-age. We should charge them quadruple price for every F-16 we sell them and be sure that Israel violates their air-space to go bomb Iran. I’m disgruntled about the entire operation but I am happy that Iraq at least seems stable now and at the very minimum that at least the soldiers didn’t die in vain if and only if for that single reason.
NORI AL HALEKIM AND MOQTADA AL QATHER ARE THUGS KILLERS BELONG TO IRAN, IRAQ HELPING SYRIAN REGIEME TO KILL CEVILIANS SO WHY UISA IS HELPING THOSE TERRORISTS WHO ARE EVIL FROM THE CORE, IRAN SUPPORT NORI AL HALEKI AND HIZBOALLAH IS THE EVIL ARM TO KILL CHRISTEANS AND SUNNIS, THOSE EVIL HELPED BY USA !!!!!!!!!!!! WHAY A LOGIC? USA GAVE IRAQ TO IRAN ON A SILVER PLATTER. SHAME ON YOU OBAMA , YOU MUST GET RED OF THE IRANIAN INFLUENCE IN IRAQ, MUST ATTACK SYRIA THUG REGIEME AND WE MUST PREPARED TO ATTACK IRAN NOW.
While I do believe Iran is one of the biggest problems on this earth, and gets away with blinding people around the world to their dirty deeds causing havoc in every continent of the world, because they DO support terrorism and I am so sorry for the demise of teir people,who the government there kills them, keep them from the news, take their satellite dishes so they cant seek truth,they cant speak out against their government and they are killed for leaving a religion.PEOPLE of the world are waking up, knowing that their country belongs to them.Iran dn Russia and whoever can try to blame the west, but sorry guys, YOUR PEOPLE are no longer blinded by your lies and manipulations. They have travelled the world to see the truth.You cant blame the west for their awakening, they are just a few years behind Europe,Scandinavia and US because you suppressed their free thinking by limiting their exposure to the world.You cant stop the people now and just because we understand your people better than you do, does not mean we caused their rebellion. They are simply tired of you and religious radicals telling them when they can go to the restroom(joke), but you know what I mean. RADICAL ISLAM is going to destroy the world if good Muslims and others do not demand fairness for all people in the world including all of those beautiful women out there who are sisters and mothers, who would make this world a better place if they had more voice. Find democracy in your voices with fairness to all but keep relgion in the home, otherwise you will have another dictator regime as is happening in Iran.Americans dont want war, but when Iran had a hand in the Lockerbie incident and 9-11, in Embassy bombings all over the world, and in killing Iraqi and Afghan people and stirring up rivalry between Sunni and Shia.....what do you expect? The world isnt educated ENOUGH to what theyve done. Their own people are aware of some of it, because they know how they lie and manipulate with permission of the MULLAH. Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Lebanon, Syria and the rest–DO NOT BE BLINDED by those who use Islam wrongly, destroying its name, brainwashing your kids to kill saying it is for Islam..If good Muslims do not stop these radicals, there will always be problems in the world, and they WILL LIE to you, saying they want democracy and give ou rights.If they kill Christians and demand raxes from not Muslim and call them infidel is this peaceful?Fair?Should you be killed for leaving a religion that they say allows this? NO. Be a free thinker! The western people care about all of you, but we are no longer willing to fight for you. Its your turn to defend yourselves from religious radicals paid for by Iran and Syrian dictators. God bless the people seeking their freedom and voice!
Obama did the right thing! He fulfilled his promise by which he was voted. America should improve the life of Americans, create Jobs and invest in Education and research , which in turn change the way we reason and comment on issues .
While with Newsweek, Zakaria talked what the policy makers wanted. Now with Time, he flip-flops, often counters his earlier arguments.
Apparently, journalists are journalists, many lack principles, steering their boats to where the wind blows. (vzc1943)
We managed to defeat the terrorists in Iraq, although we did not annihilate all insurgent activity, most of which was and is between Sunnis and Shiites. We removed a dangerous regime and killed a mad dictator and his sons. We liberated the Kurds from Hussein and created a pro-American, oil-rich Kurdish autonomous region in Iraq that is unlikely to be truly ruled by Baghdad which has already sold oil rights to an American company. We are, with difficulty, in a stronger position in Iraq and the surrounding region, even considering Iran, than we were when Bush got us into the war.
Still, it was a long expensive war that was fought for a lie and could have been ruined if not for the surge saving things.
As a Canadian who has long admired the U.S. people ( not necessarily their governments ) I am happy the military is coming home from Iraq at last . Since 9/11 occurred , everyone in North America has been conditioned to " live in fear " and to see "terrorists" behind every bush & every door , literally everywhere !
This is insanity & has led to the most unhealthy & destructive period in the history of your great country . What has this paranoia of global proportion gained the U.S. & we in North America ? I submit we have allowed ourselves to be brainwashed into accepting & runninng with the flawed political ideologuies of GWB , Dick Chaney & their ilk , stemming from their response leading up & through the present American foreign policy positions & actions over the past decade around the world . At what cost you may ask ? Near economic ruin , erosion of the American support & influence around the globe , mistrust of the political process & those elected to represent " we the people" and many other subtle & not so subtle , corrosive psychological impacts on the over-all psyche of the American public .
Can things get turned around ? Yes ! Will it take time ? Yes ! Will the next election be a watershed moment , like 9/11 ? I believe so & urge that anyone interested in shaping a better ,healthier , more harmonious nation , study the character of those running for poloitical office & choose wisely those you want to represent you & your values . Mat God Bless the United states of America !
I believe that for what it was worth, Democracy to some extent was placed in Iraq, and the current president is a Kurd. The fact that he is partially Kurdish shows Hussein's ideals are no longer significant.
I don't agree with that ... I lived in Iraq for 35 years and never loved Saddam , but I know my people , the Iraqis : we are basically tribes , cities are introduced in our culture , we don't obey laws as we obey tribe's " fa'sil" ...we r sunna and sheeha who hate each other and accuse each other or distorting Islam ...we are arabs and kurds and make jokes on each other and fight over land ... we are hypocrates at bones ... we are muslims , christians , yazeedees , sub'ba and else and accuse infidility of each other ... we r and we r and we r ... Saddam knew these things very well and he was sunni , thus no option for him to rule such a people but by dictatorship and fear factor ... thats the only language we understand and obey ... so , after saddam had gone , iraqi people turned against USA , their liberator , and accused americans of all their own problems ... now , USA left ... my expectation is 1. Return of 2006 and 07 era where racial killing and fear .... 2. unstable weak divided government 3. dividing iraq into many states 4. kurds will stablish their own state and other kurds in nabour countries will revolute . 5. remaining christians , subba, yazeedees will leave iraq. ... even if the USA stayed for 1000 years , this wouldn't solve it ... we are being fighting each other for thousands of years ... only when dictators come to power , like Ashor , Nabo khuth nasr , then we do well ... Ironic but its true .
Mr. Zakaria is right on with regard to the U.S. withdrawing from Iraq. We should have engaged in counter-intelligence much more aggressively after 9/11 instead of invading Iraq on false information.
P.R. Kingsburg
Obama did what he said he was going to. It is good our troops are coming home. A promise kept, not like the Bush administration getting America into war and declaring Mission Accomplished when it wasn't.
الأثنين 12 ديسمبر 2011
قل... ولا تقل...
الكاتب: عبد الله الدليمي (*) :: خاص بالقادسية
قل: (الدين الشيعي)... ولا تقل: (الطائفة الشيعية)
فالتشيع دين معادٍ للإسلام ويعمل على تقويضه من الداخل، سلاحه في ذلك النفاق الذي ينطلي على الكثير من أهل السنة "الطيبين". ومخطئ من يظن أن ما بيننا وبينهم مجرد اختلافات ثانوية في الفروع دون الأصول. فأركان الإسلام عندهم غيرها عندنا: صلاتهم غير صلاتنا، وصومهم ليس كصومنا (من حيث التوقيت وبعض التفاصيل الأخرى)، وزكاتهم لا تشبه زكاتنا، وهكذا بالنسبة للحج. أما بالنسبة للقرآن الذي هو دستور المسلمين فهو محرف بزعمهم. بل حتى أعيادنا لا يشتركون معنا فيها. وقل الشيء عينه عن المناسبات التاريخية الإسلامية، فما يسرنا منها يسوؤهم وما يسوؤنا يسرهم. ورموز الإسلام الذين نجلهم يلعنهم الشيعة ويسبونهم، والمصائب التي ألمت بالأمة الإسلامية كمقتل سيدينا عمر وعثمان – رضي الله عنهما- يتخذون من تواريخها أعيادا يجددون فيها أفراحهم – وهذا ما لم يفعله اليهود ولا النصارى.
ويكفي الشيعة بعدا عن الإسلام ابتداعهم ركنا جديدا لم ينزل به الله من سلطان، وهو "الإمامة" التي تلزم – بزعمهم- الاعتقاد بولاية علي (رضي الله عنه) وأحقيته في الخلافة وتكفير من يقدم الخلفاء الثلاثة (رضي الله عنهم) عليه. وحسب هذا الركن المخترع، فإن جميع أهل السنة كفار- ما يفسر إيغالهم في دمائنا وأعراضنا ومقدراتنا في العراق وغيره.
وهنا أهيب بكل سني يرجو من الشيعة خيرا أو يعول على شراكتهم في الوطن أن يعيد النظر في ظنه بهم، وأن يسترشد بمصادرنا ومصادرهم والتاريخ – قديمه وحديثه- ليدرك حقيقة الدين الشيعي.
ولمن لا يزال يتغنى بـالشعار الزائف: "إخوان سنة وشيعة... هذا الوطن منبيعه"، أقول: أزل الغطاء عن قلبك وعينيك لتدرك بأن الحقيقة هي: "دينان سنة وشيعة... صار الوطن للشيعة".
قل: (حكومة أحزاب شيعية)... ولا تقل: (حكومة وحدة وطنية)
يصر الشيعة على إضفاء صفة "الوطنية" على حكومة بغداد الإقصائية الاجتثاثية، ويزعمون بأنها تمثل كافة أطياف الشعب العراقي. وهذا محض افتراء لا يصمد أمام حقيقة كون حكومتهم حكومة إيرانية بامتياز. أما الساسة السنة المشتركون في الحكومة فلا يشكلون سوى "ديكور" لإيهام الرأي العام في العراق وخارجه بأن الحكومة تمثل العراقيين على اختلاف مسمياتهم وانتماءاتهم. فأعضاء الحكومة من السنة هم إما مجردون من الصلاحيات أو مضمونو الولاء للمالكي والأحزاب الموالية له.
وهنا أود أن أهمس في أذن السياسيين السنة المشاركين في الحكومة: إما أن تفضي مشاركتكم في الحكومة إلى درء مفاسد أو جلب منافع لأهل السنة، وتكون لكم صلاحياتكم واستحقاقاتكم الحقيقية كاملة دون نقصان... أو الانحياز إلى مقاومة سنية بشتى الوسائل حتى نأخذ حقوقنا بأيدينا، فالحقوق تنتزع ولا تمنح. ومن ليس لديه قوة لا مكان له في عالم السياسة.
قل: (الدين أولا)... ولا تقل: (الوطن أولا)
حب الوطن والحرص عليه أمر فطري، لكن يجب ألا يقدم على الدين الذي يفترض أن يكون على رأس أولويات المسلم الحقيقي. ولا تعارض – في الوضع الطبيعي – بين العمل للوطن والعمل للدين.
أما في حالة العراق اليوم، فالوضع غير طبيعي، حيث وضع الشيعة أهل السنة أمام مفترق طرق ليختاروا بين أمرين لا ثالث لهما: توحيد الله أو توحيد التراب. وانقسم أهل السنة بين هذين المفترقين، فالعلمانيون والقوميون والبعثيون آثروا وحدة التراب على وحدانية الله، فلم يجنوا أيا منهما. أما المسلمون الواعون والمدركون أن الدين هو المقدم على كل ما سواه (وفي مقدمتهم جنود القادسية العاملين في هذا الموقع المبارك)، فقد آثروا عقيدتهم على التراب الذي يجمعهم بأعداء الله وأعدائهم، فأخذوا على عاتقهم العمل من أجل الحفاظ على الدين والأرواح والكرامة لأهل السنة الذين أصبحوا هدفا للحقد الرافضي الدفين.
وقد نتفهم تقديم العلمانيين للوطن على الدين لأنهم أصلا لا يأبهون بالدين وتعاليمه ولا يقدمون أنفسهم على أنهم مسلمون، لكن أنّى لنا أن نفهم تقديم نخبة من "علماء المسلمين" لحدود سايكس- بيكو على العقيدة التي هي أغلى ما لدينا والتي نتعرض من أجلها لحملة شرسة من قبل الحكومة الشيعية لسلخنا منها؟
قل: (تخريب) ولا تقل: (تقريب)
والكلام هنا موجه لمن يدعون إلى "التقريب" بين السنة والشيعة – استنادا إلى اعتبار الشيعة – خطأ – مذهبا من المذاهب الإسلامية كالمذهب الحنفي والشافعي والحنبلي والمالكي. وهذا استناد ينطوي على أحد أمرين: إما جهل بكلا الدينين السني والشيعي، وإما نية خبيثة تريد إلباس الحق بالباطل.
إن الداعين إلى هذا "التقريب" يغفلون عن حقيقة أن الشيعي لا يكون شيعيا ما لم يؤمن بإمامة علي – رضي الله عنه – دون غيره... تلك الخرافة التي اخترعتها أهواؤهم وكفرونا على أساسها. ولا أدري كيف يكفروننا ويستحلون دماءنا وأموالنا ويعيثون في أرضنا فسادا، ولا يزال منا من يحسن الظن بهم ويرتجي معهم تقاربا هو أقرب إلى التقارب بين الدر والبعر!
ومن هنا أدعو علماءنا من أهل الفتوى – مجامع فقهية وأفرادا- إلى تحمل مسؤوليتهم في بيان حكم الشيعة بفتوى صريحة لا مواربة فيها كما فعل أسلافنا مالك وأحمد وابن تيمية والقاضي عياض والأسفراييني وغيرهم. فلا يكفي القول بكفر علمائهم والتوقف في عوامهم حتى تقام عليهم الحجة. وإن كان علماؤهم كفارا فكيف يسمح لهم بدخول بيت الله الحرام الذي لا يحل لكافر دخوله؟ وإن كان لا بد من إقامة الحجة على عوامهم قبل الحكم عليهم، فأين جهود إقامة الحجة عليهم؟ وهل يصح ترك الأمر معلقا هكذا ليكون الفرق بين المسلم والكافر عائما كل هذه الفترة؟
إن التفريق بين علماء الشيعة وعوامهم في الحكم غير مجدٍ وليس منطقيا، فلولا عوام الشيعة ما ساد معمموهم وسياسيوهم الذين يتبادلون أدوار الإجرام بحقنا بشكل متناغم. لذلك يجب العمل على إقامة الحجة عليهم لوضع النقاط على الحروف بما هو متاح من وسائل كالقنوات الفضائية ومواقع الإنترنت وسائر وسائل الإعلام، ولا بأس أن يستغرق ذلك سنة كاملة مثلا ليختار بعدها هؤلاء العوام إما اتباع معمميهم الذين ثبت لدينا كفرهم، وإما اتباع الدين الحق لنميز المسلم من الكافر ونضع حدا لهذا التمييع.
فعوام الشيعة يقلدون معمميهم ويسوقون لهم، ويأتمرون بأمرهم فيحرمون ما أحل الله ويحلون ما حرم الله من خلال:
- الإفطار في رمضان يوم يصوم المسلمون، والصوم يوم يفطرون.
- تأخير العيدين ليوم أو يومين مخالفة للمسلمين (للتوافق مع ماما إيران).
- منح أصواتهم الانتخابية لجلاديهم ليصلوا إلى مناصب حكومية يقومون من خلالها "بواجبهم" في ذبحنا على الطريقة "المجوسية".
- دفع الأموال كنذور وأتاوات (خمس) لتماسيحهم وأفاعيهم المعممة ليسخروها في محاربة الإسلام والمسلمين ونشر دينهم المجوسي.
- تقديم نسائهم وبناتهم فرائس لمعمميهم لممارسة الزنى باسم المتعة، وبالتالي نشر الأيدز وسائر الأمراض الصحية والاجتماعية.
- العمل كقطعان في مواكب اللطم والتطبير والتجمعات التي يؤججون فيها أحقادهم وثاراتهم ضدنا، ويسبون فيها رموزنا الذين أثنى عليهم الله في كتابه.
- تشكيل المليشيات الإجرامية كجيش المهدي وفيلق بدر وغيرهما لقتل أهل السنة وهدم مساجدهم.
هذا غيض من فيض من شرور القوم – عوامهم وخواصهم – ولا أدري ما الذي ينتظره علماؤنا؟ وكم من الضحايا علينا أن نقدم أكثر لجلادي الشيعة لكي يقتنعوا بوضع حد لهذا التمييع الذي طال أمده!
TIME FOR OBAMA TO RESIGN......USA DONT DESERVE GOOD PRESIDENT.
SHAME ON YOU OBAMA BEFORE YOU LEAVE YOU SHOULD ASK THE STUPID IRAQI GOVERNMENT THE DECORATOR NORI AL HALEKI TO RELEASE TARIQ AZIZ WHO WILL BE HANGED BY THOSE THUGS, TARIQ AZIZ IS CHRISTEAN AND THOSE MUSLIM EVIL ARE KILLING US
Tariq Aziz is christian in name only . As one of the Iraqi Christians we don't believe that Mr. Aziz was a real Christian at any time , otherwise he wouldn't put his hands in the service of such horrible dictator . We don't ever forget how proud he was when he was putting the big Cubian cigar in his mouth and talking in a way like Saddam . He was the first to excute the dictotor's orders and was so proud to be a Ba'athist . So what he expects for his end . The only exception now is a consideration for his age and health and as we say give mercy to those on Earth so our Farther give us mercy after we all die .....
That was beautiful
http://dotsub.com/view/3ded8dbc-6612-4822-9d91-e605b59d05fd
Yes the war in Iraq was a mess from the beginning: No WMD and Saddam was actually a stabilizing force in the Middle East as much as he was a tyrant. Yes the USA supported him in the 80s and suddenly said he was bad.
Over a trillion dollars, thousands of dead US solidiers, 10s of thousands of dead Iraq Civilians. We could have likely bought the oil reserves and been done with it.........
The Iraq war was a travesty, initiated by the Kronies of the Bush ERA who frankly were not a lot different than the Politburo from days gone by. "Plant the seeds of Democracy" Pearl would say. What a naive bunch of jerks.....
Like Obama, I opposed our entry into Iraq from day one. I knew the Bush administration was fabricating evidence to justify the invasion. Shame on them. Remember claims of $25B in cost to be repaid with oil money?
Nevertheless, we can be confident that we are leaving Iraq no worse off than it was under Saddam. If the Iraqis choose too annihilate each other, so be it. It's their country and their problem. They have a chance to join the civilized world, but I doubt they'll realize that.
If Iran chooses to interfere, it's likely their leadership will experience the same fate as Mubarak and Gaddafi.
Seems to me like Mr. Z. is very wrong. Our support for the in the Mideast for their dictators lessened only because of Iraq. The Wikileaks affair was the most important thing to happen for the Mideast. It showed the people that we thought their leaders were corrupt, and that we would support them if they rose up in a peaceful way that could impress our media to "force" our government's hand.
The Arab street revolted because of perceived American hegemony, not because of a lack of it.
I hope the Iraqi's, Egyptians, and the other evil Arabs slaughter themselves in our absence. That is the best way to repay us for our wasted blood and treasure.
Seems to me that Mr. Z. is very wrong. Our support in the Mideast for their dictators lessened only because of the Iraq war. In reality, the Wikileaks affair was the most important thing to happen for the Mideast. It showed the people that we thought their leaders were corrupt, and that we would support them if they rose up in a peaceful way that could impress our media to "force" our government's hand. This implies that the Arab street revolted because of perceived American hegemony, not because of a lack of it.
I hope the Iraqi's, Egyptians, and the other evil Arabs slaughter themselves in our absence. That is the best way to repay us for our wasted blood and treasure.
IRAN MUST BE STOOPED, WE MUST ATTACK IRAN NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE......IT IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL
NORI AL HALEKI IS A KILLER AND HE MUST RESIGN.
HE INVOLVED OF KILLING MANY JOURNALISTS AND USING QODOS ARMY TO KILL SUNNIS AND USING ASEYB AL HAQ ARMY TO KILL MORE PEOPLE. THIS THUG MUST LEAVE
LIBYAN MUSLIMS ARE EVIL, THEY KILL , RA.....PE..... PRISONERS KILL LEADERS , TORTURE OTHERS AND THEN ALLOWED PEOPLE TO TAKE PICTURES OF THEIR DEAD BODY WHERE IS DIGNITY IN ISLAM.. NIL ZELT NOTHING CAUSE THEY ARE EVIL
ADNAN KHAN IS DUM LIKE ALL SHIIA IRANIANS AND ISMAILIES