Truth is, yes, it pleases me.
It pleases me that steadily, incrementally, one organization at a time, every foreigner in Iraq is figuring out his life is in danger, as long as he is in Iraq. And that the solution is to leave Iraq.
It pleases me that the Iraqi patriots have the courage, weapons, (and are developing the organization and skills) to push the foreigners, all of them, out of their country. The Spanish don't belong in Iraq, telling the Iraqis how to run their country, any more than Americans do. Since I support the troops, and value every life, I want to bring the troops home.
There is no contradiction, between Iraqi patriotism and American patriotism. As long as both sides keep their proper places. The proper place for American soldiers is on our soil, protecting our citizens, making sure Americans run America. And I support the Iraqi patriot in doing the same thing in Iraq. The problems arise when Americans go to Iraq (or any of the 100 other nations our soldiers are in), and try to tell them how to run their country. That is not a proper expression of American patriotism, that is colonialism, and so I don't support it.
It pleases me that the U.S. military is talking about turning over security to Iraqis, and withdrawing to fortified bases outside population centers. The only step remaining will then be to pull out entirely. At which point (and not before) our soldiers will stop dying in a pointless and unwinnable war.
It pleases me, that we are failing in this war of aggression, so it is highly unlikely there will be any further wars of aggression against Iran, Syria, or N. Korea. If the war had gone as planned, and the occupation of Iraq was self-financing and only requiring 40,000 garrison troops, the Bush Administration would be committed to the next Regime Change (timed for right before the election).
We will win this war, but not using current tactics, which are entirely counter-productive, and decrease our national security.
The winning strategy is:
1. provide a good example
2. a purely defensive military posture
3. don't get on the wrong side of nationalist wars
4. a global Marshall Plan and HeartsAndMinds campaign.
Message 19470174 |
