Editor,
There has been a lot of open talk about an attack on Iraq in order to remove Saddam Hussein from power. However, why would any logical person believe there actually will be any such action?
Let's take this point-by-point. First of all, Bush and Cheney have verbalized such an action. Which means we have alerted Saddam to our intentions. Which means he will have apt time to build up his defensive capabilities, as well as the potential to build a coalition of Arab state allies who may or may not like the man but will join him against any attacks by the United States.
Second, Bush is finding this to be a hard sell to Congress. Many in Congress want to know what threat does Iraq pose to American security presently.
Third, if we should attack Iraq, what is the endgame? Will we replace Saddam with another corrupt dictatorship, such as the Saudi regime? Will we attempt to democratize Iraq? What is our goal? And what's the exit strategy?
Fourth, many U.S. forces are still involved in Afghanistan in pursuit of al Qaida and Taliban members. If we engage Iraq, we will have committed an error of Napoleonic proportions. We cannot sustain a two-front campaign currently. Why? We cannot get our Western allies to agree with us on this action, nor can we get any real Middle Eastern support with the exception of Israel. Our forces will be spread too thin.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Furthermore, engaging the Iraqi armed forces will be a tougher feat than fighting the Taliban. The Taliban was little more than a gang, or a ragtag band of thugs and fiends, who had little or no professional training; their only combat being repression of the citizenry and engaging a poorly armed Northern Alliance.
The Iraqi Armed Forces are a more professionalized military; many of its officers cut their teeth on the Iraq/Iran war of the 1980s, as well as Desert Storm.
I personally believe that our threats to attack are just bluffs - signals intended to provoke an internal coup or uprising in Iraq. Why let our enemies know what we are going to do? That puts them on notice and allows them to take the necessary actions they need to take.
If we really deem Saddam Hussein to be a menace, why do we need to commit hundreds of thousands of American lives as well as killing innocent Iraqi citizens? Why not just locate Mr. Hussein and deal with him personally?
Brandon D. Curtis
Daily Lobo reader
