Many Americans still think that the Bush Administration would be able to get away with the responsibility of invasion of Iraq and will win election. They counted on the indifference of American citizens at what happens in the outside world and their deep-rooted interest in domestic affairs that affect their day to day life. But the number of such supporters is dwindling with the rapid fall of his popular rating. The growing criticism at home, especially by the Democratic election aspirants, has strived to modify and project the foreign policy, especially Bush's handling of war in Iraq and on terrorism, as an election issue. The accusation of the former Treasury Secretary that Bush had contemplated to invade Iraq much earlier inflicted quite a blow against the incumbent President.

The impact of the hearings of the newly set up Congressional Commission to investigate the 9/11 events already appears to have proved damaging for the Bush Administration. The sessions of the Commission have been informative, rather revealing, and interesting. Those who appeared were among the policy makers and chief operators of both Clinton and Bush Administrations. They included Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of State Colin Powell, National Security Adviser Sandy Berger, CIA Director George Tenet, President's Anti-terrorism Chief Richard Clarke and others. The present National Security Adviser Dr. Condaleezza Rice was not allowed to testify before the Commission at the behest of President Bush, taking umbrage under the constitutional provision of independence of a principal State organ, the Executive, from another organ, the Legislature. Her omission to testify is likely to evince doubt in the minds of people about transparency of the Administration and is likely to go against its interest.

Plenty has been written and talked in support of dismissing pleas for justification of President Bush's war against Iraq, both on account of Iraq's alleged possession of WMD and its connection with al-Qaeda. The consequence was disastrous. It not only alienated a significant section of the Muslim world, but also some of US's traditional friends in Europe. It bred many more terrorists than those originally designed to suppress. It made a blatant violation of the Charter of the United Nations and severely tarnished the efficacy of the world body as the primary instrument for maintaining and promoting international peace. On the other hand, the American people were largely swayed in favour of the Administration by the media on whom the latter wields enormous influence. Besides, the Republican traditionally enjoys greater support of the big business, industrialists and the rich, and always bags much bigger goodies as election expense.

Counter-terrorism Advisor Richard Clarke's testimony was the most damaging one for Bush Jr. He testified to the fact that after 9/11 the Bush Administration should have gone all the way to capture Bin Laden, the self- confessed perpetrators of the tragedy of 9/11, and his associates and not stopped until the objective was realised. But it did not assign due priority to the al-Qaeda, whose suppression was greatly undermined by going to war against Iraq. The billions of dollars spent on Iraq should have been better utilised by providing the much needed security for al-Qaeda targets inside the United States, he claimed. Besides, delay in eliminating bin Laden has meanwhile given birth to a large network of al-Qaeda in various parts of the world.

The CIA Director gave a historical account of how bin Laden had earlier been found within sights of US soldiers but no action could be taken against him for various reasons. He underscored the shortcomings of the administration due to its inability to recruit proper personnel, to impart them adequate training and to deploy operators appropriately. Sandy Berger, who served both Clinton and Bush Jr. as their National Security Advisor, pointed out that the number of al-Qaeda attacks in various parts of the world as well as Bin Laden's public declaration of war against America long before the events of 9/11 should have prompted the Bush administration to take immediate action against al-Qaeda. But it was not so done and also the Administration did not exhibit the degree of urgency it deserved.

The Commission Chairman and members emphasised that the primary task of the government of any country was to provide security of life and property of its citizens and that the government failed to provide it, despite existence of the required world-wide network of apparatus and availability of adequate resources for it. The repeated warnings of the impending dangers and the pronounced threats before 9/11 were not also heeded by the Administration. On the contrary, their misjudged preventive action against Iraq brought grievous harm to the American national interests in general and the President's own interest in particular. The President should know that among his previous colleagues he is, perhaps, the most disliked man outside America.

It will take America quite some time and requisite action to repair and restore its past image. And the relatives and friends of the victims of al-Qaeda terror could not demonstrate greater anger and disappointment at the revelation not only of government's failure but for the unforgivable apathy towards performing its solemn legitimate duty.

M.M.Rezaul Karim, a former Ambassador, is a member of BNP's Advisory Council.