Armed Asian safari of first Afghanistan and then Iraq for the US officials and troops is turning out to be a one way traffic with no path to return, for the situation even after the defeat of Taliban in Afghanistan and Saddam in Iraq seems out of control as Taliban and Islamic Militants have once again become active and started raising their heads in the militancy prone region.
To continue the war against terrorism and to check and curb the increasing incidents of violence and suicidal attacks in Iraq and Afghanistan, in the recent past, President George Bush has raised a demand for an extra 8,000 troops, 4,700 combat support troops and military police, before Congress. The latest addition will increase the number of American troops in Iraq to about 165,000.
The extra military was announced on the call of Gen Petraeus who expects a increase in the number of suspects detained due of the forthcoming Baghdad crack down or the new security plan.
Congress will possibly held voting on legislation to force the president to set a timetable for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq by September 2008, otherwise prepare to accept reduction in war backing. Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the House of Representatives, replying to a last week intermediation by President Bush to veto the bill, asserted,
With his veto threat, the president offers only an open-ended commitment to a war without end.
Ms Pelosi, received the request for extra troops from President Bush, who is on a tour of Latin America, from Air Force One. Mr. Bush, in his demand, notified,
This revised request would better align resources based on the assessment of military commanders to achieve the goal of establishing Iraq and Afghanistan as democratic and secure nations that are free of terrorism.
The fresh request for additional troops, on top of the 21,500 back up troops declared few weeks ago, is going to stir up American Congress, as Democrats who are in majority, together with some opposing Republicans are looking forward to pass a bill that would set a schedule for U.S. troops to withdraw if Iraqi authorities and forces fail to meet time limit for taking liability to look after their nation on their own.
The latest deployments will cost about $3.2bn (£1.6bn), and to keep up the budget about $100bn for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars president Bush has abandoned certain other defense plans.
Meanwhile, yesterday, in a fresh suicide bomb attack at least thirty-one Shia Muslims on their way back from a religious festival were killed in Baghdad.
Increasing demand of troops appears to be a dramatic escalation of forces within the region that gives an indication of wider-aims of the Bush administration. Will the next itinerary for the US and allied troops be Iran on their Asian safari?
