Iraq: Beginning of the end?

BY CLAUDE SALHANI

TWO separate events unfolded in Iraq last week that could signal the beginning of the end of the Anglo-US engagement in that country. The first event was the unexpected visit to the war-torn country by US President George W Bush, the American president’s third visit to Iraq. The second event was the pullback of British forces from Basra.

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Threats without borders

Claude Salhani
August 31, 2007

Addressing a gathering of some 200 French ambassadors gathered at the Elysee Palace last Monday, President Nicolas Sarkozy stressed the urgency of what he called "The first challenge" facing the West: How to prevent a confrontation with Islam.

"The threats we face today — terrorism, proliferation, crime — know no borders, warned the French president.

"There's no point in waffling: this confrontation is being called for by extremist groups such as al Qaeda that dream of establishing a caliphate from Indonesia to Nigeria, rejecting all openness, all modernity, every hint of diversity," said Mr. Sarkozy. "If these forces were to achieve their sinister objective, it is certain that the 21st century would be even worse than the last one, itself marked by merciless confrontation between ideologies."

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With our computers frozen, would the U.S. still be a superpower? China intends to find out.

In this galaxy, in the not too distant future . . .

by Claude Salhani

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan demanded that the U.S. military focus its attention—and much of its research and development—on how best to respond to low-tech threats such as primitive improvised explosive devices. While the IEDs proved to be deadly for the troops of the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq—the majority of casualties suffered were from exploding roadside bombs—the long-term effect they had on the American military was far more consequential. The real impact was felt only a few years later when the United States became involved in its next major conflict—with China.

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The Iraq surge works

Commentary: The Iraq surge works

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Claude Salhani, Middle East Times
July 31, 2007

Two leading US scholars - and typically harsh critics of the administration - who have just returned from Iraq, say the surge of American forces there is working, but that more time is needed before the US starts to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

(to read more about Michael O'Hanlon and Kenneth Pollack's report on Iraq click on above link.)

Cheney wants attack on Iran

By CLAUDE SALHANI

WASHINGTON, July 30 (UPI) –

There has been much speculation regarding the probability of U.S. and/or Israeli military strikes against Islamic republic's nuclear power sites before they become fully operational. But such a strike against Iran would unleash the tsunami-like force of millions in the Arab/Muslim world.

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Is Al-Qaida making a comeback??

By CLAUDE SALHANI

U.S. intelligence officials have produced a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) concluding that the al-Qaida terrorist network is still a very potent enemy despite an all-out war waged against it almost everywhere in the world by the United States.

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Analysis: Soft partition of Iraq

By CLAUDE SALHANI
The partition of Iraq is being offered as an alternative for an otherwise failed policy on Iraq.