 |
|
|
|
 |
|||
|
NATIONAL SECURITY: The Background The United States invaded Iraq on the premise that a preemptive attack on that nation was necessary to stop Saddam Hussein from developing weapons of mass destruction and to end his support of international terrorist organizations. Following the United States' swift victory, a violent insurgency erupted, partially uniting various anti-American elements against the occupying force. This insurgency, made of Saddam Hussein and Ba'ath loyalists, religious radicals, Iraqis angered by the occupation, and foreign fighters, remains deadly nearly three years after the initial invasion. Despite continued operational successes against insurgent targets, the U.S. military has yet to find a solution to ending the violence. The majority of Iraq's population is made of three different peoples: Shi'ite Muslims, Sunni Muslims, and Kurds. Faced with brutal oppression under Saddam's rule, the Shi'ite majority have enjoyed strong political advantages in Iraq's recent elections. Sunnis, unhappy at the prospect of being excluded from the national government, have started participating more in elections than they did initially, but many remain resentful at losing power they held during Saddam's reign. The Kurdish people, though the smallest minority, have also done well in the elections and are well represented in the new government. The insurgency's violence does not always target American forces; in fact, many thousands more Iraqis (estimated at more than 30,000) have been killed than American soldiers. This has led many regional experts to conclude that a civil war, if not already started, cannot be far off between Sunnis, Shi'ites, and Kurds. Others state that the American presence precludes any potential for serious and sustained conflict between the groups. The American mission in Iraq is vast and it is difficult. It requires our forces to not only establish basic security in Iraq, but also to urge political responsibility, and help to recreate the Iraqi economy. All the while, many are engaged in combat against an enemy that is nearly invisible. The complexities of this dangerous job mean more costs to Americans, but the possibility of establishing a free Iraq might be well worth the risk.
|
|||