Thanks to *Bush, Osama bin Laden is this close >< to winning...

[Junkdrawer]

Remember Osama's plan? Force the West into radicalizing the Arab world into an anti-western theocracy. Well, not only has al Sadr moved from a fringe player to someone on the verge of representing the Shi'a majority in Iraq, but Iraq's moderate neighbors are worried that a Sadr's success in Iraq is putting them in danger.

ANALYSIS-Arab Rulers' Worst Fears on Iraq Come True

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (Reuters) - As U.S. forces battle on a new front in Iraq, Baghdad's Arab neighbors watch the escalating violence with alarm and a message that affords them only the grimmest satisfaction: "We told you so."

Arab leaders had said loudly and repeatedly that a U.S. war against Saddam Hussein would unleash chaos in multi-ethnic Iraq and the region and open a Pandora's box of radicalism.

With U.S.-led forces now battling Shi'ite Muslims in several cities, they now feel their ominous prophecy has come true.

The leaders fear that clashes between Shi'ites loyal to firebrand cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and occupation forces could lead to civil war -- and spill over their borders.

More...

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=4775917

Many thoughtful words have been written here arguing that Bush has forced us to "see it through" in Iraq - even if Kerry wins, it may take years to extricate ourselves from Iraq. Well, we may not have years.

Look, after 9/11 the Arab streets did not explode when we invaded Afghanistan. I think the average Arab realized that if you knock down US skyscrapers, there will be some hell to pay. But then to use this as an excuse to invade and then permanately occupy an oil-rich Arab nation that had nothing to do with 9/11 is another proposition all together.

The more we attack al Sadr, the more likely it is that theocracy will be the ultimate outcome in Iraq. The longer we occupy Iraq, the closer Iraq comes to theocracy. If the region explodes, there may not be enough troops in the US nor its allies to prevent bin Laden's dream from coming true.

[mot78]

1. Bin Laden must be jumping with glee

[Junkdrawer]

8. Wow. That graphic says it all. From tompaine.com I see.

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. Dim Son played right into his hands

Everything he has demanded W has given him.

[central scrutinizer]

3. Especially if Pakistan falls

then the nuclear genie is out of the bottle.

[mmonk]

4. I agree that's where the real threat is

I'm still so mad about all of this. 13,000 troops sent in to take out the terrorist stronghold and work the border of Afghanistan where the threats are. Sending over 100,000 troops into Iraq to conquer and subdue for geopolitical reasons while using deception to sell it. I wonder how far we would be in breaking terrorist networks and cells if we didn't do bush's war? We could have concentrated all our assets and worked with the international community in pushing terrorism out of all its safe havens.

[DeepModem Mom]

5. Standing on the 9/11 ruins with that megaphone --

hailed as a hero by the gullible. Arrogance and stupidity. Yep, Jd, the terrorists have just about won.

[Junkdrawer]

6. We have a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" choice...

And things are moving so fast, the time of choice may come before the election.

[robbedvoter]

7. When they bombed that mosque - they made OBL emperor

I doubt we'll ever outlive that one....

[Junkdrawer]

9. I asked last week what we would do when 100,000s marched on...

US HQ. I was told a Sadr only had a thousand or so followers. Now, I ask again. What will the 18 and 19 yr old troops do when this happens?

[Junkdrawer]

10. Kick

:kick: