15. Use our leverage to Engage in the Israeli-Arab conflict; become a true "honest broker" for peace, rather than 100% backing Sharon. Make U.S. aid dependant on dismantling illegal/small/isolated/new Israeli settlements.
I don't believe that Bush is 100% backing Sharon. In fact, I believe Bush has put considerable pressure on his government to restrain itself and not over-react (such as exiling Arafat)... And the fact that Bush has shown himself willing to directly support Palestinian statehood, and promising significant financial assistance for such an entity also goes far...
But when your enemy doesn't want to talk peace, what good is it to talk to a wall? The problem is that you can't have a government which permits militant groups to operate from its territory, or undermine it's legitimacy. Hamas and other militant groups must be disarmed, just as the IRA was in Ireland. And Arafat must give up control over the security forces to Abbas, because he is the only one who Sharon is currently willing and able to negotiate with.
But failing that, the US should support the building the wall/fence separating the two entities, as well as dismantling their settlements.
16. Insist on an Exit Plan, when U.S. troops are sent to foreign conflicts. No open-ended Tar Babies, like Yugoslavia and Afghanistan, where our soldiers are committed forever but can't Fix the problem. The best cure for Quagmires is Prevention.
Such as? What was the exit plan when we defeated Japan and Germany? We still have forces there.. And the exit plan for Korea? We still have forces there.
Sometimes having US forces stationed in a region goes far to creating more stability than turmoil.
In the case of Iraq and the middle east, I believe this to be the case. And we have concrete examples of this as the nations of the region reposition themselves to deal with this new reality. Saudi Arabia, FINALLY, has started dealing forcefully with its militant factions, as well as opened up its financial networks to US investigators. None of that would have happened without US forces in close proximity providing an example in Iraq of lies in store for those nations which harbor terrorists who threaten the US.
The best plan for "quagmires" is to properly fight the war. Deny your enemy safe sanctuaries from which to resupply, regroup, and rearm. Target their leadership and financial supporters. And make examples of governments which provide such support.
Hawk |
