Lessons of Fallujah
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Iraq isn't conquered, and can't be governed by us
antiwar.com
<<...The occupation of Iraq could last 20 to 30 years. Some areas, like Fallujah, may never be "pacified." Are Americans willing to spend what it takes in lives as well as treasure to hunt down all the young "nihilists" of Iraq and either kill or jail them – and turn the rest into model citizens?
"Whatever it takes…."
They lied us into war, and now we're supposed to pay whatever it takes to save their honor and their political necks. Yeah, well, it's nice work if you can get it, but, from what I hear, not many people are hiring these days – and certainly not on those terms.
Noonan and her neocon friends echoed every lie dished out by this administration: the "weapons of mass destruction" long since destroyed, the links to Al Qaeda and 9/11 that existed only in Laurie Mylroie's single-tracked imagination, the alleged military "threat" posed by Saddam that was merely a projection of our own relentlessly aggressive intentions. They have no right to turn away from the horror of Fallujah, to cavil about it, or wax indignant over it, or otherwise get on their high horses and moralize over it. They wanted this war, and now they have it. Let them look at the sight of their own handiwork – without retching, if they can help it.
And if they can't help it, then who is to blame for that?
The lessons of Fallujah are plain as day: Iraq isn't conquered, and can't be governed, at least not by us. If we want to avoid ugly incidents such as this one, we can make the rational choice and get out – while the going is good...>> |
