Invasion of Iraq

. PHOTO: AFP

Was it really necessary to invade Iraq in the context of terrorism or possession of WMD? Iraq was severely punished for invasion (of its tiny neighbour Kuwait) and occupation of Kuwait through consensus of international community, formation of coalition forces, UN resolutions, sanctions, negotiation with Iraq, arms inspection, no-fly zone etc. Iraq annexed Kuwait as one of its provinces and told the world to forget Kuwait by totally ignoring the fact that no country can annex a sovereign country by force in the present day world. Due to Iraq's obstinacy to vacate Kuwait, the world had to witness the Gulf War and undoubtedly it was an unequal war. Though the Gulf War was a foreign policy success for the US, George Bush lost in his re-election bid.

President Bill Clinton questioned the costs involved in the war in Afghanistan and of course he was not pro-Taliban. If Saddam Hussain is a criminal he can be diplomatically punished by way of trial in the international court of justice (like the former Yugoslavia president). But can President George W Bush rule out, like his father, that Iraq will not become another Vietnam?