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Probably the unhappiest groups today are those companies who haven’t
yet inked their Iraq contracts, worried about international competitors. In the Arab world and elsewhere, there will be someone else who will
arise to ‘stand up to America’ as those who expressed regret for his capture
said. Until then, would it not
make bin Laden more valuable to those who feel that way? Will Jordan’s King
emerge as a deal-maker? Surely, there is some thinking about this as they consider whether
Saddam at trial will tarnish our image as a previous ally of his. Surely we are
thinking about the future and reducing the number of new enemies. Surely. – KWC Snagged from CAP (Center for American Progress) REFLEXIVE RESENTMENT TOWARD AMERICA: Reuters reports that while "Saddam may have been seen as a
dictator who oppressed his people, many
also saw him as the only Arab leader who stood up to the United States." As one member of Jordan's parliament said, "It is bad
news. To us, Saddam was a symbol of
defiance to the U.S. plans in the region. And
we support any person who stands in the face of the American dominance."
It is a troubling sentiment that has permeated the Muslim world. As American
journalist Andrew
Finkel writes from Istanbul, "people now
hold the American invasion of Iraq responsible for instigating a contagion of
resentment that has spread their way. They see Washington as a bee-stung giant,
thrashing about with reckless disregard for the damage it does." WARNINGS THAT SADDAM CAPTURE WILL NOT BE
PANACEA: Administration officials have said for weeks that
the capture of Saddam, while important, will not solve the complex situation in
Iraq. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said on 5/27/03 "the fact is
that Saddam Hussein may or may not be alive [but]
he clearly is not running Iraq. So, the fact that he is not locatable at
the moment if he is alive is too bad but it certainly isn't determinative"
of whether he is controlling the insurgency. Rumsfeld reiterated that position
on 60
Minutes last night. When asked whether "the capture of Saddam Hussein
now means Mission Accomplished?" he replied, "Well, certainly
not." Similarly, the NYT
reported last week that Gen. Sanchez "said that even if American forces
captured or killed Saddam Hussein, that would not extinguish the resolve of the
guerrilla fighters." Part of the reason Saddam's capture might not have as
wide an impact as hoped is because not all of the insurgents were aligned with
Saddam in the first place. A recent Congressional
Research Service report "lists 15 separate groups battling US-led forces in Iraq, from
Hussein loyalists to Al Qaeda operatives." LITTLE CONNECTION BETWEEN SADDAM CAPTURE
AND OSAMA HUNT: AP
reports, "Afghan officials hailed the capture of Iraqi dictator Saddam
Hussein, saying Sunday the arrest might blunt the growing insurgency here. They
also speculated Saddam's capture after seven months on the run could make it
easier to catch the world's other top fugitive - al-Qaida mastermind Osama bin
Laden." But as Knight-Ridder
reports, terrorism experts "say Saddam Hussein's capture is unlikely to
prompt U.S. officials to intensify their search for Osama bin Laden in
Afghanistan." Specifically, the "CIA
and Pentagon are unlikely to return to Afghanistan the scores of U.S. commandos
and intelligence agents that had been seeking bin Laden before they were
shifted to Iraq." Joseph
Cirincione of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace dispels the
notion of a connection between Saddam's capture and other challenges:
"Saddam's capture may decrease attacks in Iraq by Baathists but it is
largely irrelevant to the larger war against terrorism. Saddam means nothing to
al-Qaeda and all the al-Qaeda-like forces." >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> |
