The Iraq War: Phase II, The March To Baghdad

There would not be a Phase II or march to Baghdad such as taking place now in Iraq if President Bush had not unleashed Phase I, the invasion and occupation of Iraq over WMD that did not exist.  The war created Al Queda in Iraq who was not operating in any part of Iraq controlled by Saddam.  That unnecessary war destabilized Iraq and allowed outsiders from Iran and other middle east countries, including Al Queda the opportunity to attack and kill Americans. 

This writer wrote a number of commentaries in 2007 and later that pointed out that no matter how the war ended, Iran and Iraq would be on the same side and that Bush's misguided judgement that he could remake Iraq in his own warped image would not happen. Phase I was the prelude to Phase II and the so called Hawks and neocons who wanted the invasion are still wrong. 

I am reminded while on vacation a few years ago in Alabama there was a Soundoff written to the Mobile Register newspaper dated January 15, 2005.  I cut it out and I still have it in my file because I thought it told a great story.  Below is the full context.  It truly captures the story of the war in Iraq and just how passive the news media and many people have been concerning the war.

SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT HERE, FOLKS
Our President has just announced there are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and we will now stop looking.  People, this is the reason Bush gave for invading a country.  Does anyone in this country even care?  Thousands of people are dead over this.  We are treating it like a footnote to a brief announcement from the White House.  What is even more alarming is that he says knowing what he knows now, he would do it again. 

President Obama's concerns now during Phase II is to protect our people in our embassy and work toward a settlement with all factions involved and the U.N.  That may not even be enough in that part of the world.  For sure the President needs to tune out Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham and those who clamored for the war in the first place.  They have no creditibility.

The most important move now is for Iraq's elected leaders to step up and move the people to take on the insurgents and drive them out.  If they are incapable of a united front outside help will only delay the final out come.  Insurgents in that part of the world can lay low and choose their time to act.  That is what they are doing now in Phase II.


This commentary written by John Lucia