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Iraq , a country of some twenty eight million people, sits in the heart of the Middle East. According to a map of Iraq it is surrounded by six neighbouring countries. Of these six countries not one could be described as being friends of Iraq . Syria , possibly could be considered an ally of Iraq , mainly because of trade between the two countries.
Trade with Syria makes up for almost one quarter of Iraq 's imports. The Iraq map also shows its two largest borders are withSaudi Arabia to the south and Iran to the east. Saudi Arabia has little to do with Iraq except tokeep an eye on its seven hundred mile border with its unstable neighbour.
Iran , on the other hand has paid a very heavy price for having nine hundred mile border with Iraq . When Iraq invaded south western Iran in 1980, it set off an eight year war that resulted in the deaths of more than 300,000 Iranian citizens. Iran has good reason to mistrust Iraq.
When the United States invaded Iraq in 2003, it grossly underestimated the power or size of insurgency that would rise up to keep foreign invaders out of it's country.
A quick glance at the map of Iraq , gives one an idea what an important role Syria can and do play in keeping the insurgency going. The Syrian government claims it don't allow insurgents to cross its borders in either direction. This claim seems rather unlikely, since Syria strongly opposed the 2003 invasion by the USA .
Given the fact that relations with the Americans have suffered because of this, Syria therefore has its own reasons for keeping the USA off of the Iraq map.
Invading a country is one thing, maintaining control however, is another.
A countrywith as many borders as Iraq makes it even more difficult. It appears the United States ledcoalition is finding that out the hard way. It was no secret that Saddam Hussein had few friends in the middle east, but it seems the Americans have even fewer. |
