As the sole hyper power, the United States has many unfriendly competitors and more than a few mortal enemies. Even friends and traditional allies find our power and our ability and willingness to project it discomforting. Not only do we have to deal with traditional sources of power, but since 9/11, it has become apparent that the ancient art of terror is now the source of another great worry.
Sadly, by attacking Iraq, we have given comfort to those who wish bad things for us. Our forces are concentrated in a manner that we have very limited flexibility with our ground troops and far less than we should with our air and sea elements. As we pour blood and treasure into the sand in Iraq, we do ourselves little good in the field of fighting terror and we are weakened in our dealings with other national powers.
Our entire defense budget has had to be reprogrammed to support the Iraq War. I’ve pounded on this issue before and won’t go beyond saying that the retirement of the USS John F. Kennedy limits our ability to project power around the world and deferment of a number of weapons systems limits us in other ways.
So as our leaders say things are moving swimmingly in Iraq I find this government-speak quite hollow. We’re $200 billion into the fray and we’re pouring $4.3 billion more into the sand each week, and that says nothing about the human cost to us and the Iraqis. For very modest costs, the Jihadists are tying up the entire military structure of the United States. Not only are they tying up the 150,000 troops in the country – with all of their arms, armaments, and support equipment - but far more in Kuwait, Germany, and other countries around the world, including here at home that are needed to supply and support the mission.
While $4.3 billion a week is an extraordinary sum, I wonder if it includes all of the supporting costs being incurred around the globe? In any event, the terrorists are able to perfect their hostile techniques at low cost and use the war to add to their forces. All the while many traditional nation states cry crocodile tears at our plight. Even our commanders on the ground acknowledge the usefulness of the fight to the terrorists as a source of recruiting.
There are positive signs throughout the Islamic world. The neoconservative view that many of the repressive governments throughout the Civilization have little popular support is demonstrable. That the theocracy is shaky in Iran, that various elements in Lebanon have put aside their differences to pressure the Syrians, that Saudi Arabia is feeling the pinch and pressuring the Baathists are all well and good but provide no assurance that Western style democracies are in the offing.
By going to War in Iraq, our political power against Iran and North Korea – two far more dangerous states – is greatly diminished and our military capability is degraded to the point that the option is not frightening to either government.
Two years ago, our power to dictate to rogue states and to fight terrorists in places like Afghanistan was beyond question, but by attacking a power that had no weapons of mass destruction and which posed little threat to us or our allies, we have weakened ourselves immeasurably. Of course, we’re still the world’s great power, but anyone who thinks we have the flexibility and political clout we had before this mad neocon adventure has found the source of really good stuff.
The Iraq War is a calamity, the greatest since Vietnam. But it is not a completely negative experience. We have been pushed into realizing that we do not live in a world that is ours to do as we please. The president has quietly tried to mend fences with our traditional allies. Every dark cloud has a silver lining.
Blog on!
Wild Bill
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