Comments on: The Iraq Conundrum

By: runasim

runasim — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:31:13 +0000

Okay, It's been acknowledged that the war was a tragic mistake, that it was misplanned, mismanaged and misrepresented.
How does that acknowledgement change the situation we find ourselves in today? It's a situation we created. The 'rag-tag' government is one we created.
Now we want to say: "Sorry we broke your house, but now you fix it"? .

Of course, we can't fix it, either, even if we wanted to.. That's why I believe beginning the process of withdrawal is important; it clarifies for the Iraqis the part they must play in their own destiny Our part is to make sure we don't misplan, misexecute and misrepresent coming out as badly as we did going in. We owe them and ourselves that much.

That's also why I dislike the firm time commitments and withdrawal dates, without space for changing circumstances or consequences.
That's precisely what Rumsfeld's basic error was. He stuck to his original plan regardless of how badly the consequences were piling up. around him. We don't want to mimic Rumsfeld's mistakes, I would think.

By: RememberNovember

RememberNovember — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:31:08 +0000

Tob be a good referee requires an implicit understanding of the rules-when the rules change on a day to day basis by influence from a rag-tag government or own own mismanagement team, how can that accomplish anything?
This entire campaign has been run like an tobacco company lawsuit.

By: lurxst

lurxst — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 21:35:42 +0000

For McCain and his republican backers, Iraq is already a win. Global unrest continues, arms sales are up, oil prices are skyrocketing, the rich are getting richer and the US is on its way to becoming a nation of waiters and waitresses serving the richest 1 percent. Why change?

For such a long term in the senate, McCain sure has awfully little in the accomplishment department to crow about.

By: Slamfu

Slamfu — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:45:34 +0000

"What will al Sadr do?"

He will maintain his hold on his territories and strive to kill any Sunni's that threaten his power base. His position is strong enough that any battle of attrition goes his way. Once we leave he will go all out and seize power.

"What will alQaeda do?"

Kill anyone that doesn't agree with them in the following order of importance: American, Shiites, their fellow Sunnis.

"What will be the results of elections in the provinces?"

Sunni area will elect Sunnis, Shiite will elect Shiites. Shiites will once again have majority control and the Sunnis will not stand for being under their thumb and not recognize the Shiite majority. The highest posts will be filled by those America picks, ensuring that neither Sunni nor Shiite recognize their authority.

The other issues will have a negligible impact on the outcome in Iraq.

By: ChrisWWW

ChrisWWW — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:43:46 +0000

Let’s hope politics will not be what drives us getting out.

I'm hoping it's democracy that drives us out.

By: runasim

runasim — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:34:17 +0000

I know it's foolish to expect it, but I wish all the candidates, and their supporters, would stop talking about Iraq in absolutist terms.
Between now and 2009, a lot of things can happen that will change the picture once more.
> What will al Sadr do?
> What will alQaeda do? (They have a remarkable ability to rise up after every defeat)
> What will be the results of elections in the provinces?
> What will be the result of Congressional elections in the US?
> What will be the state of our military forces?
> What will be state of our economy?

The situation is so fluid that I think we should all take a deep breath and pause before committing to a firm position in tomoorrow's circumstances.

Looking to the UN for more than guidance and lip service is uselless, IMO.
The member states have too much diffciulty just living up to past commitments.

PS I wish there were a law banning words like 'victory' from disucssions about Iraq.

By: Slamfu

Slamfu — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:34:13 +0000

I would hope the next president has them all back within 2 years. Why we are still over in that fiasco I don't know. There is not one Iraqi faction with any real clout that is a fit for our desired friendly democratic Iraq pipedream. Each grp is one shade or another of theocratic thug intent on seizing power for their own ends and I say we let them fight it out and deal with whoever is left standing once that country if finally a nation again.

Its not our fight anymore, we are just the referee. All the players are Iraqis which is why I laugh when people say we are going to stay until we “win”. Its not up to us anymore.

By: RememberNovember

RememberNovember — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:50:20 +0000

If the next president can get more than half of our troops out of Iraq within the first two years, that will be a marked improvement over the past five. If we can get 3 more Senators to pass the Hegle Bill, then we can get those returning troops what they deserve- a second chance after Stop-loss stopgaps driving them to the brink.

7's a lucky number in my book.