The growing danger

[mwb970]

(Editorial, Rutland (VT) Herald, Feb. 6)

But the alternatives are many. The trouble is that Bush has ignored them. That's because he appears wedded to a policy of belligerence and threat that promises to spread chaos and destruction throughout the Middle East.

The resolutions that are the topic of debate in Congress must be seen as the first step in an ongoing process of engagement between Congress and the White House. Through the resolutions, Congress is saying no to Bush's policy of increasing troop levels in Iraq. That isn't all it must say. It is beyond the power of Congress to make foreign policy, but in addition to saying no to the "surge" of troops, Congress needs to push for greater awareness of the dangers in store if Bush is allowed to continue on his present course.

One of the great dangers arises from Bush's belligerence toward Iran. Apparently, Bush cannot formulate a foreign policy without an enemy upon which to place the blame. Iran fits the bill. He has been critical of Iran for providing arms for our enemies in Iraq. The conundrum for Bush is that Iran has been providing arms, not to our enemies, but to our friends, or at least to our friends' friends.

Democracy in Iraq resulted in the election of a Shiite-dominated government and the flourishing of Shiite militias that have sought to counter the attacks of the Sunni insurgency. Should we be surprised that these Shiite groups, including the government, would welcome help from Iran? Many of them found asylum in Iran while Saddam Hussein was in power. But Bush appears to have fallen into the trap of viewing the problems in Iraq through the prism of his hostility toward Iran.

More at:
http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070206/OPINION/702060319/1038/OPINION01

The comment about right-wingers always needing an enemy (even if it's just Barbra Streisand or Jane Fonda) really rang true for me.

[RaleighNCDUer]

1. Of course, the whole purpose of the the Iraq war, the one they

almost never talk about, was not democracy, or WMDs or terrorism, but the establishment of a ground base from which to attack Iran. That's whay Iraq is no more than a "comma"; the intent has been war on Iran all along.