Middle East Mess
The Middle East is much worse off than it was when Bush took office six years ago. In retrospect removing Saddam Hussein was a victory for Iran, because his regime had kept the pro-Iranian Shiite majority repressed. Instead of freedom, Iraq has disintegrated into a Sunni-Shiite civil war that threatens to spread instability throughout the region.
Long before 9/11, the Bush regime was planning an imperialistic invasion of Iraq. After 9/11, Bush was able to convinced Congress that Saddam Hussein was seeking nuclear weapons. Bush propagandist were again able to convince some that ousting Saddam would turn Iraq into a democracy that would become the model for the rest of the Arab world. Saddam didn’t have nuclear weapons and there wasn’t an al Qaeda connection. Iraq turned out to be more disposed to civil war than democracy.
Israelis and Palestinians have again descended into violent conflicts. Israeli and Palestinian negotiators ceased trying to work out an ambitious end of conflict agreement after Clinton left office in January 2001. Bush backed Sharon, who proceeded to expand Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, and the conflict became bloodier. Arafat died and after a democratic election, his Palestinian party was ousted from power by the fundamentalist party Hamas, who refuses to recognize Israel. Rocket attacks from Gaza have highlighted the limits of what Israel can achieve through its plans to unilaterally redraw its borders.
In Lebanon, the national unity agreement that ended almost two decades of civil war in 1990 has been unraveling. Iran's Lebanese ally, Hezbollah, withstood Israel's month long onslaught last summer and is poised to topple the Lebanese government. Bush’s hard-line policies have made Israel and Lebanon less safe.
The Iranians reelected moderate President Mohammed Khatami, who had reached out to the U.S. and called for a "dialogue of civilizations." However, Bush refused to extend the olive branch offered by Clinton and declared Iran part of an "axis of evil." Khatami left office under fire for the failure of his conciliatory approach and Iran's Islamic revolution was rejuvenated. Khatami was replaced by hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who proceeded to promote Iran's nuclear ambitions. Bush continues his tough talk against Iran, and in so doing expands Iran's influence in Iraq.
Moderate Muslims have been alienated by Bush’s promise to wage a "crusade" against al-Qaeda after 9/11. Thus, equating his war on terrorism to earlier Christian invasion of the Middle East that remains etched in the collective memory of Muslims. Bush's military campaign against Iraq has undermined the political position of moderate pro-American Arabs, such as Egyptian President Mubarak and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and King Abdullah II of Jordan.
Long before 9/11, the Bush regime was planning an imperialistic invasion of Iraq. After 9/11, Bush was able to convinced Congress that Saddam Hussein was seeking nuclear weapons. Bush propagandist were again able to convince some that ousting Saddam would turn Iraq into a democracy that would become the model for the rest of the Arab world. Saddam didn’t have nuclear weapons and there wasn’t an al Qaeda connection. Iraq turned out to be more disposed to civil war than democracy.
Israelis and Palestinians have again descended into violent conflicts. Israeli and Palestinian negotiators ceased trying to work out an ambitious end of conflict agreement after Clinton left office in January 2001. Bush backed Sharon, who proceeded to expand Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, and the conflict became bloodier. Arafat died and after a democratic election, his Palestinian party was ousted from power by the fundamentalist party Hamas, who refuses to recognize Israel. Rocket attacks from Gaza have highlighted the limits of what Israel can achieve through its plans to unilaterally redraw its borders.
In Lebanon, the national unity agreement that ended almost two decades of civil war in 1990 has been unraveling. Iran's Lebanese ally, Hezbollah, withstood Israel's month long onslaught last summer and is poised to topple the Lebanese government. Bush’s hard-line policies have made Israel and Lebanon less safe.
The Iranians reelected moderate President Mohammed Khatami, who had reached out to the U.S. and called for a "dialogue of civilizations." However, Bush refused to extend the olive branch offered by Clinton and declared Iran part of an "axis of evil." Khatami left office under fire for the failure of his conciliatory approach and Iran's Islamic revolution was rejuvenated. Khatami was replaced by hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who proceeded to promote Iran's nuclear ambitions. Bush continues his tough talk against Iran, and in so doing expands Iran's influence in Iraq.
Moderate Muslims have been alienated by Bush’s promise to wage a "crusade" against al-Qaeda after 9/11. Thus, equating his war on terrorism to earlier Christian invasion of the Middle East that remains etched in the collective memory of Muslims. Bush's military campaign against Iraq has undermined the political position of moderate pro-American Arabs, such as Egyptian President Mubarak and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and King Abdullah II of Jordan.
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