This is Floyd Wynne with THE VIEW FROM HERE  (6-22-04)

What happens next in Iraq?

Just about eight days from now we will pull our military forces out of the line of fire in Iraq.

What will happen then ?

Currently the terrorists are concentrating on killing Iraqis because they have met very stiff resistance when tangling with our forces. They appear intent on trying to dissuade any Iraqis from joining the peacekeeping police and security forces that we are training to take over in our absence.

The weapon has almost always been a bomb loaded vehicle of one kind or another. Entry to our military forces has been blocked off and it’s difficult for them to reach us....but they are now concentrating on killing Iraqis.

In turn, many of the Iraqis now blame the United States for bringing the terrorists down on them.

A temporary government has been selected and will take over control of the country just eight days from now.

The biggest question will be whether or not the Iraqis can successfully defend against the terrorists alone without U.S. aid.

The recent aerial bombing of a suspected Al Queda house in Fallujah has brought more condemnations upon us...but we must remember that the terrorists utilize women and children for shields.

There will be an increase in their violence over the next eight days because they don’t want peace and security nor a democratic form of government in Iraq....and will kill whenever and whomever they can to attain that goal.

But....I do think that much of the terrorist threat will abate somewhat when the Iraqis themselves take over the task of their own security.

It will either be that....or our forces will find themselves even more deeply involved in fighting the terrorists.

It’s a long time to January when hopes are that a permanent government will be elected by the people themselves...thus ensuring some form of democracy.

In the meantime....the carping critics here at home will continue to be busy trying to blame mainly the President for the problems that occur in Iraq.

At best we can expect that it will be perhaps several years before we can actually withdraw all our forces from Iraq.

In the meantime....there is cause for alarm from the last two of President Bush’s axis of evil....Iran and North Korea.

Both have been embarking on a rush to nuclear arms that could certainly destabilize the entire picture in the Pacific.

North Korea talks talk....but agrees to nothing.

Iran says they are only working on nuclear fission for electrical purposes....but denies U.N. inspectors access to certain areas of their country.

The world is a dangerous place indeed....and here at home predictions are that some type of terrorist assault will be perpetrated on this country sometime between now and the presidential election on November second.

We’ll hope for the best...but prepare for the worst.

This is Floyd Wynne and that’s THE VIEW FROM HERE.