September 24, 2007

So, to no one's surprise, General David Petraeus want's to keep our troops in Iraq at current strength -- or given the Administration's facility at "figuring," greater strength -- for at least six more months.

Let's see, we sent our soldiers into Iraq -- and for some reason, Iraq, even Anbar, is a mess - - -

Maybe Iraq's a mess because, as First Lt. Paul Rieckhoff explained, a soldier's job is to "kill people and break their stuff." Which tends to be really messy and has very limited utility.

In fact, it sounds a lot like a bull in a china shop doesn't it?

But worse.

How do we fix it? Surge? A bigger bull?

What? The damage got worse?

I know! Keep the bull in the shop longer!

But we all know -- particularly the Republican and even the Democratic leaders -- that we can't just suddenly withdraw our troops - - -

In the Vietnam era, they called that notion "The Domino Theory." As Nixon claimed of leaving Vietnam, it "would lead to World War Three." So, if we did quickly withdraw our troops, terrible things would happen!

Wouldn't they?

... almost all fear that Iraq will sink into deeper anarchy if coalition forces leave, endangering the interests of the United States.

I felt the same when I handed my post as coalition deputy-governor of Dhi Qar province to my Iraqi successor, Muhammad Abbas, in June 2004. ...

But when I returned in 2005, I found that Dhi Qar had become one of the most secure provinces in Iraq. Our departure had forced Iraqis to take responsibility. ...the real problem is not our tactics but our very presence. ... Most Arab Iraqis dislike U.S. troops simply because they are U.S. troops. ...

Iraqi politicians are far better informed and far more competent than the coalition administrators ... This was demonstrated in late October when leaders in Najaf and Baghdad brought a burgeoning civil war in the city of Amara under control within two days. ...

... Every day that we remain, more American and Iraqi lives are lost, more enemies take up arms against the United States, and the anarchy spawns increasing horror. ... Withdrawal is coming. The sooner it happens, the better for Iraqis and for the United States. U.S. must get out of Iraq -- now, RORY STEWART, [Toronto] Star OnLine, Nov. 8, 2006. 01:00 AM

The Iraqis agree:

It's not that there is a religious war going on in Iraq with religious differences, that now a religious reconciliation will stop it. ...It's based on political reasons, and it's based on a foreign intervention and foreign occupation. ...

And this demand [for a timetable for withdrawl] is actually an Iraqi general demand. It doesn't come just from the Iraqi resistance. It even comes from the Iraqi government, from Sunnis and Shia within the Iraqi government. And it comes from many of Iraq's neighbors, that if you wanted to work for peace in Iraq, let Iraqis know that the occupation forces are going to leave, so that they will have the space and time to heal their wounds, and they will deal with their problems by themselves. RAED JARRAR, Democracy NOW!, Oct. 23, 2006

Iraq Health Minister Calls for US Handover, Withdrawal from Iraqi Cities: [Ali al-] Shemari also said the violence could be controlled if the US army left Iraqi cities and handed full control to Iraq. Shemari said: "The army of America didn't do its job ... they tie the hands of my government. They should hand us the power, we are a sovereign country," he said. Democracy NOW!, Oct. 23, 2006

And, about all that suicide terrorism - - -

"At bottom, suicide terrorism is a strategy for national liberation from foreign military occupation by a democratic state". Foreign occupation is defined in terms of control of territory (not military occupation alone). The targets selected by suicide terrorists suggests nationalist, not religious, aims. --from Wikipedia's synopsis of Robert Pape's 'Dying to Win: The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism'

Prof. Pape's research goes on to reveal that as soon as an occupation ends, the suicide terrorism ceases. So the notion that leaving Iraq will increase the violence just doesn't cut it. In fact, according to the British experience in Basra, leaving may reduce violence. A lot - - -

So, according to British Ministry of Defense spokesperson Lt. Col. Partick Sanders, "over 90% of the attacks [in Basra] are against British forces." And, "even after four years in Basra, the British military controls few parts of the city" and it is "one of the most futile campaigns ever fought by the British Army." Further, once we leave, says Lt. Col. Sanders, "Basra will become a calmer and less violent place."

So, unlike what we're doing now, leaving will make things better, not worse. Much better. For almost everyone.

Somebody needs to tell Gen. Petraeus, Mr. Bush, and the Democrats to cut the bull -- bring the troops home. And the quicker the better.

Just do it!

NOW!

L. Reichard White lives several houses up from the site of the old Black Horse Tavern, a birth place of the Whiskey Rebellion -- which explains a lot. He supported his writing habit for over 30 years by beating casinos at their own games. Visit his website at NEXIALIST NEWS See a key chapter from his latest project, "The Hi-jacking of Civilization" -- which has almost nothing at all to do with 9-11.

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