Iraq: A Most Dangerous Moment (Business Week Online)

[WillyT]

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It's high noon in Iraq. The U.S. campaign to spread the seeds of democracy through the Middle East is in serious danger. The recent spate of cease-fires and negotiations barely diminishes the risk that the American-led coalition could once again be plunged into the sort of two-front battle that in early April roiled Iraq in the bloodiest two weeks of fighting since the war began just over a year ago.

Occupation forces find themselves in a tense standoff, not only with rebellious Sunni Baathists and foreign jihadists but also with militants from Iraq's Shiite majority -- the supposed prime beneficiaries of U.S. liberation. Hundreds of Iraqi casualties and images of a mosque under fire during the battle for Fallujah are alienating even moderate Iraqis, who are incensed that U.S. forces are humiliating them while failing to protect them. And leaders such as radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, jockeying for power in a new government slated to take office on June 30, are promoting anti-American sentiment. "Iraq is looking more and more out of control," frets billionaire Saudi investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Alsaud. "That's dangerous for the whole region."

Iraqi insurgents are intent on undermining foreign forces. Their latest tactic: kidnapping and murdering foreigners in hopes of pressuring U.S. allies to pull out their soldiers and reconstruction workers. The ploy is having an impact: On Apr. 13, Germany and Japan warned their citizens to leave Iraq, and Moscow is evacuating Russian nationals. If insurgents delay reconstruction, Iraqis will see little benefit from Saddam Hussein's ouster -- and resentment against the U.S. could intensify. With President George W. Bush's poll numbers sinking, there's growing doubt -- and a host of questions -- about his ability to manage the war and transfer power to a legitimate Iraqi government.

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Link: http://www.businessweek.com:/print/bwdaily/dnflash/apr2004/nf20040415_4527_db038.htm?db

Shit... Even Billionaire Saudi investors are worried!!!

:scared: