Bush's War, Five Years On

Jacques Charmelot writes for AFP: "Five years after US-led invasion troops swept through Iraq, feared dictator Saddam Hussein is dead and an elected government sits in Baghdad -- but Iraqis remain beset by rampant violence, political stalemate, economic woes and the humiliation of a foreign occupation. . . .

"[F]ear of Saddam's hated secret police has been replaced by a new terror, with Iraq still being hit on a daily basis by insurgent attacks and Sunni-Shiite violence where victims are counted in scores. . . .

"In the five years since the United States unleashed its 'Shock and Awe' operation, violence has killed tens and probably hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and well over 4,000 members of the US-led foreign forces.

"Independent website Iraqbodycount.org estimates the number of civilian deaths at up to 90,000 although other figures, including Iraqi government and UN statistics, are much higher. . . .

"What are the results? US credibility has been eroded in the Middle East; the influence of Iran, Washington's nemesis, has grown; and the price of oil has spiked to record levels, with negative repercussions on the global economy."

Cheney Calls It a Success

Vice President Cheney made an unannounced but widely expected stopover in Iraq at the start of his Middle East trip.

Tabassum Zakaria writes for Reuters that "Cheney on Monday declared the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq a 'successful endeavour', pointing to security and political progress on a visit ahead of the fifth anniversary of the war.

"'If you look back on those five years it has been a difficult, challenging but nonetheless successful endeavour ... and it has been well worth the effort,' he told a news conference in Baghdad after meeting Iraqi leaders."

Olivier Knox writes for AFP that Cheney " declared Washington's 'unwavering' support for Iraq. . . .

"A series of bomb blasts greeted Cheney's high-security and secrecy-shrouded arrival, underscoring the deadly violence that still grips the nation five years after US bombs began dropping on Baghdad.

"Cheney, on a visit aimed at highlighting security gains and promoting political progress, said he had been sent by President George W. Bush to thank Iraqi leaders for their efforts in steering the country towards democracy."

John D. McKinnon writes for the Wall Street Journal (subscription required): "In a sign of what the White House views as progress, Mr. Cheney was planning a number of stops to pay his respects to Iraqi politicians, including the president and vice presidents, the head of the leading Shiite political coalition and the speaker of the Iraqi parliament, as well as top U.S. generals and officials.