Your perspective on the thing seems valid. It pushes way to hard for a determination of win/loss.
You declare Sadr/Sistani a win and the US a loss.
Your argument that Sadr didn't lose is valid since, from your perspective a battle that did not result in defeat of US forces does not mean he did not win his "war". True enough. He did not win his war. He is at liberty and proclaiming the Mahdi army's continuance. Not over by any means from his perspective. On the other hand, his insurgent force, for the time being, is disbanded. And, there is no guarantee that he will ever be able to activate it to a degree that would lead to his success.
Interestingly, you don't use the same rich explanation of the US position in the thing.
"in this battle the US clearly lost once again."
The insurgency was not successful in "getting rid of 'the Americans'," as you stated. I have no disagreement with you that this is an obvious major goal. The American/Iraqi forces were successful in removing it as a political obstacle that was barring some progress in establishing security, confidence, and the institution of government. It was the number one "issue" that put progress into question and for the time being this issue has reached resolution. I do not consider that a loss.
The arrest, conviction, and sentencing of Sadr would be 'a nice to have' but not a 'have to have' with respect to making progress on our goals. The US mission is intact and in much better condition than it was prior to the agreement. That is what matters to me, not petty squables with disarmed wannabees.
I am curious though. Why is it important for you to have it declared or viewed as a clear loss by the US? And when you couch it in the phrase "once again" you seem to be pushing the hopeless idea that Iraq has not achieved progress toward a democratic soveriegnty and that the US has failed repeatedly to support the movement of this process. It appears to me that the regime army has been defeated, there is a government, it is democratic, progress continues toward its institutionalization, and the US has been instrumental in helping to move that process forward ...and on this Sadr point, having the insurgency disbanded is a major accomplishment. |
