Foreign Policy Can Mean Life or Death

U.S. foreign policy can obviously mean life or death when it invokes military action. Soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines (as well as civilians) in harm's way can be killed when war is unleashed.

But simple alliances can also make the difference between life and death. As we learned today, throwing your lot in with the United States can generate deadly enemies.

Abdul Sattar Abu Risha, a powerful Sunni leader, met with U.S. President George W. Bush in Iraq's Anbar province just a week ago. Photos of the meeting show President Bush wearing a huge grin and Risha with a more pained expression. Perhaps Risha already suspected what might happen next.

Ten days after the photo, a car bomb killed Risha and at least two other people. Some say al Qaeda is responsible; others are not sure who to blame. Regardless, the killing has deeply shaken the prospects for peace in Iraq.

Here are some background resources:

• Professor Marc Lynch of Georgetown University has written this article for The American Prospect and another for his own blog. Lynch says, "The brazen murder of America's closest Sunni ally in Iraq was as predictable as it was shocking, and carries a powerful message to both Iraqis and Americans about the real prospects for the long-term success of the American project."

• The blog of Foreign Policy magazine said, "Much has been made of Shiite infighting in Karbala, Basra, and other parts of the south of Iraq, but what's happening in Anbar is similar in many ways. And as we've seen today, the enemy gets a vote."

• Daily Kos wrote, "Bush's Golden Boy of Anbar Assassinated."

• An obituary of Risha from the BBC.

• Iraq War Central resources.