Iraq goal

Re “U.S. sway in Iraq wanes as Maliki’s power grows,” Sept. 16

I read with interest the article describing Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki’s growth in power. The tone of the article puzzled me. Wasn’t this our goal? Were we not there to establish an independent nation under strong leadership?

Be careful what you ask for; you might achieve it. The law of unintended consequences reared its ugly head. Is it possible that our stated aim of an independent Iraq was a ploy?

Russell Blinick

Encino