Posted by
lge on Wednesday, December 27, 2006 1:28:40 AM
Thoughts on the occasion of the affirmation of Saddam's death sentence:
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Maybe this would be a good occasion to yell
"Mission accomplished!" and scram?
But some people in Iraq (apparently) are counting on us to institute "democratic" government. (Question: did the Iraqi people really ever ask for that?)
IF WE LEAVE, the civil war (or "conflict," or "controversy," or "disagreement") between Shiites and Sunnis will continue, and ultimately some breed of Islamic fundamentalists will consolidate power and institute Sharia law. Then Iraq will become just like all the other bloodthirsty Medieval fiefdoms in the Middle East, and the U.S. will have tremendous egg on its face: "YOU FOUGHT THAT HELLISH WAR TO CREATE ANOTHER IRAN???"
Well, that seems the most likely outcome.
Do we have a dog in the fight between Sunnis and Shiites? Hell, no. That's like saying, "Who do you like better -- Donald Trump or Rosie O'Donnell?"
But we have an interest in letting SOMEBODY win, take over, and rule. We don't want to
adopt Iraq! There don't seem to be enough Decent Ordinary People to affect the outcome of the violence in Iraq -- so why should WE fight to maintain the government? If there's a constituency for the elected government, let them do their own fighting.
Then move our troops up into the Kurdish region, and protect
them -- they're the only citizens of Iraq who like us, anyway. They deserve a break -- we've betrayed them too often in the past.
THEN, from the Kurdish vantage point, start bombing madrassas, training camps, targets of opportunity, the Saudi royal palace (oops -- I didn't say that). Get back to the war against Fanatical Muslims. But for Heaven's sake, let's abandon the current "sitting duck" tactic. I don't think they teach that one at West Point.