IT is said that no one ever wins a war. A lesson that Uncle Sam is learning the hard way. The decision to declare war on Iraq has landed the US in a no-win situation. Although the avowed reason for the war was to ‘liberate’ the Iraqis from the tyranny of Saddam Hussein, it was obvious from the word go that America had its own axe to grind. Anyone who could see through George Bush’s designs knew that the decision was prompted by America’s desire to call the shots in the politics of the oil-rich state. For a while, many countries were up in arms against the US’s decision, but once the die had been cast the US could not go back on it. Tony Blair too burnt his bridges by throwing in his lot with Bush. The Bush-Blair duo came under fire from the anti-war lobbies in their own countries as well as in the rest of the world.

But it now appears that the decision has backfired and the US is fighting a losing battle in Iraq. The biggest chink in America’s armour is the fact that its people can’t stomach the sight of body bags. In an attempt to tighten its grip on a situation that threatened to spiral out of control, America asked India to commit its troops for non-combat operations in Iraq. While some waited to see whether the government would fall in with the US plan, others warned against jumping the gun. With the government not sure of which way to turn, the decision was hanging fire for quite a long time. Earlier this week the government finally decided not to send troops to Iraq. No one can argue that had the government complied with the America request it would have enabled India to have a shot at better relations with the superpower, but at the end of the day domestic compulsions in an election year were obviously the deciding factor. It still remains to be seen whether the government will be able to stand its ground if the US presses its demands.

Uncle Sam: the US or the US government

Learn something the hard way: to understand a situation or develop a skill by learning from your mistakes and bad experiences

No-win situation: a situation that will end badly no matter what

From the word go: from the beginning

Have one’s own axe to grind: to have a personal reason for doing something

To see through someone’s designs: to recognise the truth about something that is intended to deceive you

To call the shots: to be in a position of authority

To be up in arms: to be very angry and ready to argue or fight

To go back on something: to do the opposite of what you promised

Die is cast: a decision has been made and cannot be changed

Burn one’s bridges: to do something that makes it impossible to return to an earlier state

Throw one’s lot with: to join or support someone

Come under fire: to be criticised

Fight a losing battle: try to do something without being able to succeed

Chink in the armour: a weakness in someone’s character, argument etc

Tighten one’s grip on: to increase one’s control over

Spiral out of control: become increasingly difficult to control

Fall in with: act in accordance with someone’s ideas or suggestions

Jump the gun: act before proper or appropriate time

Hang fire: delay in progress

Have a shot at: attempt to do something

At the end of the day: the final result of something

Deciding factor: reason for making a particular decision

Stand one’s ground: to refuse to change one’s opinions, intentions or decisions

Press one’s demands: to continue to say something or ask for something

(Reference: Longman Advanced American Dictionary)