It is precisely our unwillingness to turn Iraq over to Iraqis, or allow elections, or set any time limit on our occupation, that is causing the instability.
If we announced today, that we would allow (under UN supervision) an election in 6 months, and allow the winner to govern, and then withdraw our soldiers if the resulting government asked us to, then the 10-25 attacks/day on our soldiers would cease. The sabotage of the oil facilities would cease. Support for Bin Laden and Saddam Hussain, in Iraq, would erode. It is we who are creating the instability, the violence, the chaos, because we are acting like imperialists instead of democrats (little d).
Sure, such an election is likely to bring Islamists to power. But that's what's going to happen anyway, if we continue on the present path, and end up leaving in defeat after a long guerilla war. Better to leave now, while there is still some residual goodwill. |
