Residents Describe Life on Baghdad's Haifa Street as 'Hell'

U.S. President George Bush’s “new” strategy is geared toward bringing peace to Baghdad, the Iraqi capital he and his troops bragged about occupying nearly four years ago. But despite the occupation, the war over Baghdad has persisted. Bush was wrong to claim he had it under control before, since today neither his troops nor the government’s can make such a claim.

So who controls Baghdad? Baghdad is in the hands of murderous militias and armed groups that have turned its once peaceful streets into platforms for mayhem. Iraq’s modern history tells us that Baghdad is the key to controlling the entire country. If one loses Baghdad, one loses Iraq.

In other words, Bush and the Iraqi government have lost Iraq, and to regain it they will need to regain Baghdad. But can they do it? Because the strategy is flawed, the chances of success are bleak.

Let’s suppose Bush actually gathers enough troops and firepower and eventually manages to reoccupy Baghdad. What about the murderous warlords, militia leaders and terrorist masters who have been killing Iraqis by the hundreds every day?

There’s no need to argue about Iraqi civilian casualty statistics. The figures released by the U.N. and the Iraqi authorities, though far from complete, are more than ample to warrant the condemnation of the perpetrators. Iraqi government sources privately admit that since the U.S. invasion, Iraq has lost up to 5 percent of its 30 million people [1.5 million].

That is a calamity perhaps unprecedented in history.

If Bush is serious this time, he’ll have to supplement his strategy with measures to hold the perpetrators of this tragedy to account, whoever and wherever they may be.

The murderous militia leaders and warlords will easily escape Bush’s belated wrath and simply withdraw or hide their weapons. We know from experience that they are experts at redeployment, concealment and hiding. These groups are quite agile and have learned how to circumvent U.S. military operations.

If Bush wants to succeed he must go after their command structure – their leaders – and bring them to justice as former President Saddam Hussein and his aides were tried and punished. This is especially true, since many in Iraq believe that the crimes and atrocities committed by the warlords since the U.S. took control dwarf those of the former regime.

Bush needs to understand that much of the killing taking place in Iraq is done right under the nose and apparently with the backing of the “democratic government” whose leaders he lauds.

Bush must move against the roots of the problem, not the leaves and branches. So long as the roots and trunks are there, terror and violence will be nourished and strengthened.

Is Bush willing to do that? We doubt it.