Mission not accomplished... in fact falling apart.

Fresh from a 10 minute flight in an S-3B Viking, that he co-piloted but did not land and donning a flight suit, Mr. Bush strutted triumphantly aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln on May 2nd 2003. He stood at the podium and declared, "Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the Battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed. And now our coalition is engaged in securing and reconstructing that country."

This modern wannabe Alexander relished the smell of triumph, welcoming the tired and toiling troops who had wrested such a victory. Behind him the Red, White and Blue banner concocted by Ari Fleischer and his White House crew signalled a self satisfied, smugness that was quickly to disappear.(..as did Ari)

“Today, we have the greater power to free a nation by breaking a dangerous and aggressive regime. With new tactics and precision weapons, we can achieve military objectives without directing violence against civilians. No device of man can remove the tragedy from war. Yet it is a great advance when the guilty have far more to fear from war than the innocent."

What was the Mission ? What has been accomplished ? Well the the first question the answer slips by, changes, and like a mirage dances on a distant and deserted horizon.The country is not, as the Commander –in-Chief said 30 months ago claimed, neither secure nor re-constructed.

To the second question, the absurdly named “Coalition of the Willing” have succeeded like Hannibal at Carthage,” that which he did not lay waste he destroyed”. The nation they have “freed” is on the brink of war with itself, ready to fracture…as foretold by many before the first”precise” bombs were dropped and the first shots fired.

Barzani and the Kurds have, quietly and effectively carved out their own autonomous region, which the US have no chance of wishing away or destroying.

The Sunnis, so long the allies of the US, are an embittered but nonetheless powerful and well armed and financed minority.

The Shias, are divided within themselves but control the oil rich south regions which they will not soon or easily be deprived of.

What was the Mission ? What has been accomplished ?