Steve,
I was thinking of replying somewhat like you did to Lane3. The comparisons to Germany and Japan are completely bogus. These were countries that were totally defeated. The governments of those countries had, by and large, the loyalty of their people. Germany's government was removed, Japan's government--in particular the Emperor--surrendered, and the warmongers in the government were either killed, committed suicide or were disgraced. There were no factions in either country comparable to the Kurds, Sunni and Shia. Any opposition to the Allies were war weary, broke, and demoralized, incapable of any sustained attacks or resistance.
If I believed that having a US presence in Iraq really was a necessary and sufficient condition for Iraq to pull together and become a self-sufficient, peaceful country, then I would reconsider my position to get out. I don't believe that. I don't believe that suddenly the Sunnis who are now our "partners" suddenly love us nor do I believe that they wouldn't turn on us just as quickly as they turned in favor of us last year if it suited their purposes. We are trying to square a circle over there. We want majority rule in a place where sigificiant numbers of the minorities don't trust the clear majority, and for good historical reasons. And where at least a fairly significant number of those minorities would strongly prefer to be independent (Kurd) if there weren't countervailing historical and political forces opposing that independence. Combined with plenty of money, weapons and historical grievances on all sides, this is a recipe for disaster, a tinderbox waiting to be set off, not "living happily ever after" in a responsible government accountable for its actions. |
