The Ripple Effect

There is a new perception that the fight over Iraq was not about oil. Apparently, we are to believe that the recent developments in Iraq point to the fact that the fight was about democracy. Based on this perception, the Bush administration intentionally misled the world in order to start the process of democratization in Iraq and ultimately in the whole region. Furthermore, the elections in Afghanistan and Iraq are seen as a turning point which will change the geo-political situation of the region.

This new spin on the events has ramifications that are more dangerous than the concept of pre-emptive strike. If up until now the US administration had changed the rules of warfare and made pre-emptive strike against potential enemies a reality, now they present us with a new way of thinking that legitimizes misleading the world.

The major issue everybody tends to overlook is the fact that the US did not invade Iraq in the first place to start a process of democratization for the region. The main reason the US invaded Iraq was based on a sham story about Iraq's military capabilities and its unproven WMD program. None of the resolutions that were passed in the UN had authorized the US to invade another country in order to spread democracy. The same analysts tend to forget the destruction and humiliation that the American invasion has created for a sovereign nation.

Proponents of Bush’s neo-conservative doctrine claim the rest of the Arab world will see how liberated the Iraqis are and this alleged freedom will have a ripple effect on the rest of the region. Where would that leave us? Are we to believe the US is now set against its own client states and tries to bring down repressive regimes throughout the region? If the same repressive regimes in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and other client states are still in power and are supported by the US government, how in the world are their people supposed to attain freedom?

Based on what we have learned over the years about US intentions and strategy, can we expect a change of heart in its worldview and fool ourselves into believing that from this time forth they are in the business of promoting democracy and freedom throughout the world? Are we to begin believing in Bush and his neo-con friends who claim there is a new dawn for democracy and freedom in the region?

It seems like the spin doctors in the Bush administration have succeeded in not only fooling the American people, but this time around, the whole world has fallen prey to their twisted logic.