Source: CCTV.com

09-11-2006 13:39

Special Report:   Iraq in Transition

Five years after al-Qaida's 9/11 attacks, many Iraqis view the tragic events as having had a negative impact on their lives.

In 2003, the Bush administration spearheaded an invasion of Iraq. His administration accused Saddam Hussein's regime of developing weapons of mass destruction. It also claimed that Iraq had possible links with al-Qaida .

Five years on, no WMDs have been found. And U.S. troops are still battling an insurgency in Iraq. And the country is on the brink of a bloody sectarian civil war.

One citizen said, "The main objective of the 911 attacks was the control of fuel and other resources, the creation of new markets in which to sell the goods of the capitalist countries, as well as the exploitation of our riches. That was the main reason for this operation."

Others are questioning the ramifications of the attacks.

One resident said, "It is true that 3,600 or 4,000 people died and U.S. economy was hurt. But it has benefited from the event at the expense of the American people and the Islamic world because the U.S. administration took it as a pretext to hit Afghanistan and target Iraq."

One Iraqi politician has given a harsh assessment.

Saleh Al–Mutlaq, Iraqi Sunni Mp said, "Anyone who believes that weapons of mass destruction were the reason for Iraq's invasion is mistaken because the U.S.administration has discovered that there are no weapons of mass destruction. Anyone who believes that the reason was a link between the regime and al-Qaida is also mistaken because the absence of a connection has been proven by the U.S. administration itself."

The Sunni Member of Parliament also says the evidence shows that Iraqis have NOT achieved true democracy. And five years on, it is hard to say -- if -- or when -- they ever will.

 

Editor:Sun Luying