“Nakba” – Arabic for catastrophe – is a term used to describe the creation of the state of Israel. In truth, it isn\’t any such thing, and Arab countries, were they of a mind to do so, would benefit greatly by accepting Israel and partnering with the Jewish state on technology, trade, science, medicine, agriculture, and plenty more.
But now we have a real Nakba – the destruction of Iraq as a fledgling democracy, to be replaced by an al-qaeda offshoot comprised of Sunni Muslims which, though a minority in Iraq, ran the country until the United States facilitated the demise of Saddam Hussein and the institution of government by the people.
The al qaeda-related ISIS group has taken over Mosul, taken over Tikrit (saddam Hussein\’s home town) and are marching on Baghdad. Its intent is to end any hint of democracy and establish a caliphate in oil-rich Iraq, then to move on and take over neighboring countries. (Ironically one of them, Turkey, has moved significantly toward Islamic rule over the past decade, but according to news reports in the past day or two, now is scared out of its mind that ISIS will threaten the country\’s still-democratic system of government).
And where does President Obama and his administration fit in?
-For years Mr. Obama condemned the war in Iraq as a failure – a war which removed a mass murdering dictator and established democracy there;
-In 2011 Mr. Obama removed all of our troops from Iraq – and took full credit for doing so even though the troop withdrawal was negotiated and signed by President Bush before Obama ever took office. But he did not leave any residual force there to advise and protect Iraqis, thus leaving them to the tender mercies of radical Islamics like ISIS;
-And now Mr. Obama is refusing, at least as of this moment, to get involved in helping Iraq prevent what, more and more, seems like its imminent takeover by radical Islam; a takeover which will make ISIS the single most powerful terrorist entity in the world and a clear threat to every other country in the region.
You want a Nakba? That\’s a Nakba.
As for the political fallout? I have zero doubt that Barack Obama – mid-way through his 6th year as President – will blame it all on George Bush, who is in his sixth year of not being President.
Anyone want to take bets? I\’ll give odds.
