The “security hysteria” of the United States is exactly what the attackers wanted to achieve. Their goal was not just to kill, but also to give an ‘insecure” feeling to the American people within the US. Unfortunately they succeeded not just with the result of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but also with the aftermath of it. They dragged America into a two front war: with Afghanistan and Iraq.
While there was a good reason to attack Afghanistan, since the Taliban were harboring the Al Qaeda leadership, it is more than questionable the reasoning behind attacking and occupying Iraq.
Iraq was harboring neither terrorists, nor Al Qaeda members. Saddam Hussein brutal regime did not tolerate another brutal entity like they were within the country.
By attacking and occupying Iraq, the United States lost the balance of power in the region which has been there for decades between the two rivals: Iraq and Iran.
It is not an accident that Iran became so “strong” in the last couple of years. Iraq which caused them so much trouble, with which they were in war for almost a decade, does not exist anymore. Instead there is an Iraq which is Iran friendly. The US set free an enormous capacity in Iran, which has been tied up for decades with a hostile, Sunni ruled Iraq.
Where do we stand with the security of the United States now, after 9 years of war with Afghanistan and 7 years of war in Iraq?
The situation is much worse than it was before. While both countries are occupied by US forces (and this was the easy part) there is no (short) way out from the conflicts. If and when the US forces leave Afghanistan, there is an almost sure possibility that the country (or at least a good part of it) will descend back to Taliban rule. This radical Islam ideology is against everything what the Western democracies stand for. And the US is their number one target and enemy.
Can the US afford to leave Afghanistan completely? Probably not, for a long time. Today there is more radicalization in the region than ever. And the Big threat is emerging:
Pakistan
with their close to 200 million people from which 97% are Muslim. There are a growing number of people in Pakistan who are against the West, against America and pro Taliban. Partially because of choice, partially because of the threat how the Taliban treats the locals in the lawless tribal area bordering with Afghanistan. Then here is the threat that Pakistan nuclear weapons may fall to the hands of the radicals.
In the meantime Iraq, which has never tolerated the terrorists under Saddam Hussein, became a magnet for the various radical groups and terrorist from all over the world. It is now the favorite battle field - where they can fight directly - against the Americans and the allies.
Solution? I do not think there is any short term solution. The job (whether it was right or wrong) has to be finished the best way possible. There was a quick military victory but in order to keep the victory in the long run proves to be much more difficult. As long as America is alienating the local population – there is no long term solution. To build up the trust and turn the population pro American is a long way to go. The Obama administration understands this and works in that direction. I hope we will see at least some results during his first term.
Do we feel more secure now because of all the actions our government did? Unfortunately the impact – especially what the previous administration was suggesting – was, that there are enemies everywhere and we are not secure. By attacking two countries and drag the nation into a two front war did we become more secure? I do not think so.
What Obama inherited is a huge task to absorb and solve. I strongly believe that he has the correct approach in both countries and he is doing the best it is possible under the very bad and complicated circumstances.
