Madam, - With every passing month and each new atrocity, the catastrophe which was the illegal invasion of Iraq becomes clearer. Iraq is now a divided country, with widespread population displacement and ethnic cleansing occurring nightly. Of course Historians could have forewarned Bush and Blair that this is the result of most imperialist adventures -the division of the native population followed by civil war.
When the lies about Saddam's alleged arsenal of weapons were exposed we were told the invasion was part of the "war on terror". But if we view it as such it makes even less sense. The most trenchant enemy of al-Qaeda in the Middle East was Saddam Hussein and for that reason, al-Qaeda must have given up all hope of establishing a base in Iraq. Now, of course, it has been handed this opportunity and from Iraq it can now further destabilise Saudi Arabia, Syria and Jordan.
The political aims of al-Qaeda are clear, despite what some of our political and journalistic numbskulls would have us believe. It wants an end to Western economic and political interference in the Middle East and the establishment of a regime or regimes that would hold fast to Islamic teaching on economic and social matters. To do this, it needs first to break down the structures already in place.
Bush and Blair have achieved this for al-Qaeda in Iraq. Al-Qaeda's aim there is not to repel the invaders; it is to ensure that the state of Iraq disappears forever. That is why the focus of attacks has shifted from the invaders to the Shia.
Al-Qaeda must be astonished at the sheer stupidity of its enemies and will be anticipating an attack on Iran with some glee. - Yours, etc,
ALAN McPARTLAND, Grange Court, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16.