This is an interesting subject I would like to come back to and discuss with you soon, when I have a bit more time, but just to briefly answer your question before I head out for the weekend:
I wonder what you want to see happen in Iraq now?
What I would like to see happen is the Iraqi government and police rapidly getting together the know-how, authority, and frankly, the will to govern the country on their own. Then the US can confide Iraq to them and bow out sooner rather than later, and hopefully end this crescendo of anti-US hostility and extremization in the Muslim world that feeds on the current situation in Iraq.
What will likely happen is quite different, unfortunately.
Do you want the U.S. to withdraw its troops immediately?
Definitely not. If US were to leave now, there would be a power vacuum in Iraq a la Yugoslavienne, with pretty much the same bloody results. I advocate more of a "You break it, you own it" approach. US has to stay in Iraq at least until its government & police force can stand up on their own.
Do you believe that the insurgents represent the aspirations of most Iraqis?
No, I don't. I believe most Iraqis are like most other people anywhere - they want to earn their living, protect their loved ones, and watch their kids make grandkids.
However, the nature of terrorism is such that a small part of the population that participates in and/or supports the insurgency is enough to keep the blood flowing. [As can be seen in the Israeli/Palestinian drama]
The problem with this is that as insurgents blow up police stations here and there, Americans are forced to respond in kind. Then people die, and not all of them are the intended targets. These people leave behind loved ones and families (and they tend to be LARGE families down there) who then start feeling kind of hostile against Americans (as you do when someone kills your father, no matter what the reason). Then they decide Americans are Bad Guys who should be shot at sight.
This is the problem with such asymmetric warfare - you can kill individual terrorists but you compound your problems in the process.
I would like to hear your thoughts on this as well.
Now I really have to go. Have a good weekend everyone... |
