Pouring Fuel On Fire

Ill: "Commander Doom," by The Worried Shrimp

Today, as if to prove that subtle ironies are completely lost on the Bush Adminstration, we see that despite Hayden's decision to release the CIA's "family jewels" ~ a catalogue of the crimes of the Cold-War era, including highly risky underhanded plots to interfere with & manipulate politix in other countries, has not had a whit of effect with respect to today's misguided decisions. Exhibit A: news today that the U.S. plans to foment rebellion within Iraq, ostensibly against Al-Qaida (title bar) ~ who weren't there when we 1st invaded ~ but never mind that. Our presence has attracted them like flies to rotten meat.

The plan calls for us to set up & fund the counterinsurgency of certain Sunnis against Al-Qaida, who are a particularly radical version of the same sect. And, oh, never mind that the move will end up further destabilizing the Iraqi all-but-failed government we installed.

Military officials insist on downplaying our role in the matter.

"U.S. officials insist they aren't actually arming the Sunni tribesmen but simply utilizing them. Nearly every household in Iraq has at least one weapon and the country is awash in guns.

"'We've given them a little ammo, some flares, but mostly humanitarian aid. We're not arming these guys, we're just changing the direction they're pointing their guns in,' Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno, the U.S. ground forces commander, said last month.

"Regardless of where the weapons come from, the risk is that the Sunni tribesmen won't cooperate with the Shiite-led central government if they succeed in crushing their al-Qaida rivals. The effort could end up simply creating new Sunni militias, further undermining the authority of an already weak central government.

"In rural areas, tribal loyalty is often stronger than allegiance to the national government, especially when the central administration is weak.

"'There's no question that the people with guns in Iraq are looking after their own self-interest,' said Jon Alterman, a Mideast expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. 'And they don't have any sentimental attachment to the central government in Baghdad.'

"Mindful of that risk, the Shiite government's initial reaction to arming Sunnis in Anbar and elsewhere was cool. Last month, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said arming Sunnis was simply creating new militias."

Apparently the Bush Administration will not be satisfied until the entire Middle East goes up in flames ~ as evidenced by the news yesterday (that conveniently knocked aside the earlier news that Bush had commuted Scooter Libby's sentence) dramatizing the Administration's long-held position that Iran must be made to heel.

Yesterday's report from US military intelligence was that Iran has been aiding Sunni insurgents in Iraq by promoting Hezbollah-style training & tactics, which, incidentally, provides more excuses for the US to avoid coming to scheduled talks with Iran.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070703/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_070629184802

Why engage in diplomacy before you've made such an intractible mess in the MidEast that you've amped your own opportunities to sell the world on the necessity of expanding your "War on Terra"?

Never mind that the root cause of aforesaid Terra is a long history of foreign manipulation & meddling in the region. Escalation, not negotiation, is the aim.