Occupying Iraq: America's 100 Year War

[Demeter]

http://www.progressivedailybeacon.com/more.php?page=opinion&id=1564

Occupying Iraq: America's 100 Year War
A. Alexander, June 3rd, 2007

Israel is set to mark the fortieth anniversary of that country's occupation of Palestinian and Arab lands. The Israeli people will be "celebrating" forty-long-years of nonstop and endless warfare.
Almost exactly 36 years before Mister Bush prematurely declared victory in Iraq, the world had declared Israel the winner in what has been mistakenly called the 'Six-Day War'. Israel had quickly and roundly trounced Egypt, Jordan and Syria - or so, as was the case in Iraq, it appeared.
The reality of the 'Six-Day War', however, is that it had only marked the beginning of a bloody conflict...not the end.

For forty years, Israel has been locked in a war with the Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and in the midst of an endless battle with Syrian-backed insurgencies fighting to reclaim the Golan Heights and other territory. Nobody dare speak honestly about the situation, but the fact is that Israel will never truly win their never-ending war. In fact, had it not been for the generous American taxpayer, Israel would long ago have been defeated.

Still, despite the ongoing living, breathing and growing Israeli example-by-bloodbath; George W. Bush is making plans for an Israeli-like American occupation of Iraq. Mister Bush and his delusional Defense Secretary, Robert Gates, are trying to liken such an occupation to that of America's presence in South Korea, but the truth is that it would be a fiasco more akin to Israel's disastrous forty year war.

Should Mister Bush get his way and the United States does attempt a permanent occupation of Iraq, the American people will find themselves signed up for a war lasting beyond their children's lifetime - a hundred year shooting war, or more. And, like Israel's never-ending war, it will be a conflict destined for defeat.

[dave_p]

1. 100 years?

Why be such a pessimist?

This has to be good for at least another 300 given America's talent for leadership.