The Fallujah offensive

Apprehensions of those that predicted a more aggressive U.S. policy, more so in Iraq, after the U.S. election, have been seemingly proven right by the Fallujah offensive that is currently underway.

The U.S. forces have launched a full scale attack on the predominantly Sunni city that has so far appeared to be a thorn in the side of the illegal occupation forces, in order to, according to them, pave the way for a timely and peaceful election due in January 2005. A veneer of Iraqi participation in the attack that is provided by some Iraqi troops has given the operations a semblance of a joint undertaking.

The logic that drives the occupation forces is lost on us. While the occupation forces talk of reconciliation and understanding amongst the disparate sections of the Iraqi society, the Fallujah attack will do very little to assuage the feelings, and in fact will alienate the Sunnis in Iraq even more.

The Interim Prime Minister has been made a pawn in all the political and military shenanigans indulged in by the occupation forces in Iraq. The declaration of a state of emergency, and that too in Sunni majority areas as a strategy to stabilize the country is fraught with imponderable dangers.

We can only echo the UN Secretary General's concern at the negative fallout of the Fallujah offensive, particularly on the future of elections in Iraq. What, may we ask, happens after the city is reduced? What will happen to the civilians that are still holed up in the city, no where to go? In spite of Rumsfeld's confidence in the competence of his troops' urban warfare is costly in time, resources and human lives.

The question is, will reduction of Fallujah achieve the elusive stability?

While there is a need to arrest the spate of violence in Iraq, the wise counsel is to address the issue through dialogue and discussions rather than confrontation and violence. -- The Daily Star, Dhaka