A front for militant extremism the U.S. created
Iraq: Where Terrorists Go to School
By JESSICA STERN, NYT
IRAQ, President George W. Bush said in 2003, was a “central front” in the war on terrorism. He was wrong, but prescient. Iraq has become a front for militant extremism — a front the United States created.
Leaving aside everything else — the absence of weapons of mass destruction, the toll in blood and fortune, the immense loss of life — the 10th anniversary of the invasion, is a moment to reflect on this huge setback in the so-called war on terror.
The Qaeda affiliate that emerged in Iraq over the last decade did not disappear when Osama bin Laden was killed in 2011 or when the last American troops withdrew in December. On the contrary, the group is resurgent in Iraq and now its neighbors, even while other Qaeda offshoots continue to be active on the Arabian Peninsula and in North Africa.
Following the invasion of Iraq, which began 10 years ago Wednesday, terrorism within Iraq’s borders began to rise precipitously. There were 78 terrorist attacks against civilians in Iraq in the first 12 months following the invasion; in the second 12, the number nearly quadrupled, to 302 attacks.
(More here.)
IRAQ, President George W. Bush said in 2003, was a “central front” in the war on terrorism. He was wrong, but prescient. Iraq has become a front for militant extremism — a front the United States created.
Leaving aside everything else — the absence of weapons of mass destruction, the toll in blood and fortune, the immense loss of life — the 10th anniversary of the invasion, is a moment to reflect on this huge setback in the so-called war on terror.
The Qaeda affiliate that emerged in Iraq over the last decade did not disappear when Osama bin Laden was killed in 2011 or when the last American troops withdrew in December. On the contrary, the group is resurgent in Iraq and now its neighbors, even while other Qaeda offshoots continue to be active on the Arabian Peninsula and in North Africa.
Following the invasion of Iraq, which began 10 years ago Wednesday, terrorism within Iraq’s borders began to rise precipitously. There were 78 terrorist attacks against civilians in Iraq in the first 12 months following the invasion; in the second 12, the number nearly quadrupled, to 302 attacks.
(More here.)
Powered by Blogger
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home