The ill-advised Iraq invasion gave disparate terrorist groups a cause to unite, increasing their power, writes Amin Saikal.

It is clear that Washington went into the war without a proper understanding of the nature of the Iraqi people and state, or the depth of anger across the Arab and Muslim worlds against the US.

It also underestimated the destructive role that the right-wing Israeli Government of Ariel Sharon could play in torpedoing any chances that the US could improve its standing among the Arabs and Muslims by securing a viable resolution of the Palestinian problem.

Professor Amin Saikal is director of the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies (the Middle East and Central Asia) at the Australian National University.

Extracts from:

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/30/1067233321958.html?from=storyrhs

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