In essence, the whole war plan has been changed from an American clearing operation -- where Iraqi forces would unsuccessfully attempt to hold that cleared ground -- to a strategy where U.S. forces will clear, hold, and stay. There also will be a beefed up “clear and hold” operation in the volatile Anbar region, where local tribes have begun to move against al-Qaeda and other enemies.
These are all crucial components of a strategy that, for a change, sounds like a recipe for victory. However, it is critical to the success of the plan that all belligerent parties in the region now be held accountable.
“We will interrupt the flow of [enemy] support from Iran and Syria,” warned the president. “And we will seek out and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies in Iraq.”
These tough words amount to a virtual declaration of war against the rogue states within the Axis of Evil.
Just hours after the Bush speech, U.S. troops raided a building in northern Iraq and arrested five Iranian Revolutionary Guard operatives. Shortly afterwards, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told senators, “the United States is not going to simply stand idly by” while Tehran tries to disrupt Washington’s renewed efforts to stabilize Iraq.
It’s about time.
Additionally, the U.S. is waging financial war against Iran. The Treasury Department froze the assets of Iran’s oldest bank, Bank Sepah, which has facilitated the funding of Iran’s weapons-of-mass-destruction programs. The bank is now barred from American financial markets.
And let’s not forget that plunging oil prices -- from nearly $80 a barrel all the way down to $52 -- will do severe damage to Iran’s already tenuous fiscal position. As the new U.S. security blanket protects Persian Gulf shipping lanes from any Iranian mischief, continued oil-price declines will bleed the weak Iranian economy. That, in turn, will undermine Iran’s ability to financially assist terrorist groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, or anti-American factions in Iraq.
Think of it: Falling oil prices not only reflect lower war and political risk, but they are actually doing enormous damage to one of the Middle East’s top risk producers: Iran.
Political opposition by Democrats and Republicans to Bush’s new strategy may be hardening, but financial markets are pointing to a much more positive scenario. Might the president’s new plan actually work? World markets are saying give it a chance.
I agree.