Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Hawkmoon who wrote (125509)	3/2/2004 9:39:44 PM
From: Sam	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 281500

One of these days you and he are going to run out of "wiggle room" and actually have to offer a plan for how to resolve the situation in a favorable manner, both for regional stability, and for the Iraqi people. The real problem is that there is no "favorable manner." I know you don't accept that, but so it goes.... That is why Bush ought to have finished the job with Afghanistan and with Al Qaeda before sending troops into Iraq. But the '02 election beckoned. And they were stupid enough to believe that the dancing in the streets would last for longer than a week or two. And wouldn't be followed by bombs.

To: Hawkmoon who wrote (125509)	3/3/2004 10:26:32 AM
From: GST	Read Replies (5) \| Respond to of 281500

Step one is recognize the depth and breadth of the mistake. Step two is clean house -- including disowning any connection to Chalabi (some would argue that we go a step further and arrange for him to visit Jordan for a long vacation). Step three is recognize that civil and regional war are indeed looming as possible outcomes -- with higher probabilities as each day passes. Step four is to decide where our interests lie in terms of civil war. We can take sides or choose not to take sides. This is the next hurdle we face. If we don't take sides we will leave it to the Iraqis and other interested parties to fight it out. If we take sides we might be able to stop civil war before it really gets going, but at the price of a long drawn-out terrorist war that will feed off of our position as king-makers. Both are unappealing. Both must now be weighed carefully.