It was the shock and awe in Iraq the Generals had promised. Without even a sniff of a hint, the troops were left aghast, awed and shocked by what happened. Except in this case, the troops concerned were US marines and the event that left the in a state of awe and shock was the surprise visit of their Commander in Chief in friendly Baghdad!
CNN.com - 'It felt good,' GI says of Bush's visit - Nov. 27, 2003, and why not? Although not in the vein of Alexander the great leading his armies in the battlefield, President Bush's "ultimate road trip" as journalists put it, into "terror" infested Iraq is a welcome signal to troops that all is getting better, if not great, and may not necessarily bring a smile to Saddam's face - despite the remote possibility of swift retribution on his American nemesis...
Parrareling Air Force One's obvious security measures, one of which was to land in total cladestine darkness at the Baghdad International Airport, the fact that Iran conducted official meetings and even made a high level visit to the US-installed Iraqi Governing Council was done largely under the radar of the media. Predominantly Shiite Iran can be viewed from 2 perspectives - firstly, as a Muslim state (not Arab mind you, for they draw their ancestry from the Aryans, significantly or not the same origins claimed by Hitler's master race), Iran has ample reason to expand it's economic, political and religious ambitions. The unification of the 2 countries would create a formidable power not unlike the scenario painted by Tom Clancy in his novel Executive Orders.
If that is indeed the case, why bother with the Iraqi Governing Council? Despite the usual rhetoric from the pinnacle of Iranian politics, relations of any kind would only legitimize the "American puppet administration" and further strengthen the position of the American forces. Why bother to establish a relationship with the IGC if, as Ayatollah Ali Khameini was reported to say, the US was sinking deeper into the Iraqi quagmire (not unlike piling for construction works?). Which brings us to perspective no.2 - bridge building. A resurgent Sunni state with links to Hussein will lend little joy to the Iranians, given their 8 year conflict. Iraq today presents an opportunity for Iran to build bridges with the rest of the world, albeit in a more controlled environment. A possible thick slice of the US-controlled budget for rebuilding the country is the carrot being dangled at the end of the stick. The fact that Tehran is putting up little rhetorical resistence in the wake of possible UN sanctions for its treaty violations and may be hauled before the International Atomic Energy Agency, only stresses the importance of moving onto a more acceptable mainstream.
The question of whether a Muslim state would play into the hands of a sworn enemy (a.k.a. Uncle Sam) is best reflected by Jordan's late King Hussein who forewarned then Israeli Prime Minister Goldameir of Egypt and Syria's military intentions in what became the Yom Kippor War of 1973. If Iran is drawn onto a more moderate seat on the international table, it would level the political field in the region and consequently give the IGC breathing space to grow from strength to strenth.
Sure, this is designed to kick off George W Bush's election campaign, and coming at the heel of the administration describes as the reformation of Medicare, I would not discount that possibility. But the prospect of being shot down by enroute to Baghdad seems too reckless a move unless there is a bigger picture behind it all. Turkey with the troops sends a clear signal that the Administration is putting its best foot forward with friends from the most unlikely sources...
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