Iraq on a knife edge

While many viewed Wednesday speech by the American President George W. Bush a promise of “complete victory'' over the Iraqi resistance or, if some like to call it rebel attacks, analysts say that the President failed to dwell on the grim reality, the reality most of his administration members and Republicans don’t want to hear.

”Our job there isn’t done,” stated Mr. Bush during his speech at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. "It’s getting done as Iraqi forces are built up and develop the strength to defend their country’s efforts to form a fledgling government. And when it’s done, our forces can come home”.

Analysts viewed Bush’s “feel good” speech, which stresses improved fighting capabilities of Iraqi troops, as part of the U.S. government’s efforts to offer evidence that it has a viable plan for Iraq in the face of mounting criticism from the country’s leading Parties; the Democrats and the Republicans, that the war has been mishandled, according to The Seattle Times.

But on the other hand, some advocate a completely different strategy, favoring a continuing presence of the American occupying forces in the country; despite the surge in violence the invasion caused the country.

In his speech, Bush did nothing but repeating old rhetoric that the Americans’ losses in the country is what granting a safe future for the United States- same claims that have become difficult for the U.S. public and the world to digest anymore.

He failed to address the grim reality his administration is facing now, the difficult and unexpected situation his government is facing in Iraq.

According to the latest figures issued by the Department of Defense and other U.S. and Iraqi official, the Iraqi resistance is growing bolder and stronger than ever, and the number of total casualties inflicted on U.S. troops is once again climbing.

Anti-government and anti-occupation Iraqi rebels seem to have started switching resources from targeting Iraqi security forces to carrying out Multiple Fatality Bomb (MFB) attacks.

As an evidence that technical expertise of the rebels is steadily advancing, recent reports stated that improvised explosive devices, or roadside bombs, continue to account for more than half the total casualties inflicted on U.S. troops, accoridng to The United Press International.

With the opposition to Iraq war touching an unprecedented 60 per cent, the Republicans themselves, facing a crucial re-election battle in 2006, have started pressurizing Bush to declare an end to this quagmire and bringing the troops home, regardless of the situation in Iraq.

Republican and Democratic Reps now feel the heat of Iraq flames with the ranks of those fallen in the war constantly swelling, the Khaleej Times stated today.

The timing of Bush’s speech is meant to counter the mounting criticism at home and the continuous sliding in his approval ratings. It also serves the need to head off two potentially greater risks: “a loss of public and congressional”.

Americans now wonder how long will Bush go on like this in Iraq, blundering from one disaster to another.

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