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Politics : Just the Facts, Ma'am: A Compendium of Liberal Fiction -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Bill who wrote (52988)	11/5/2006 4:03:52 PM
From: Cogito	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 90947

>>I realize my approach is a bit rougher than what the anti-war industry can handle. It's the 30 day plan to withdrawal. Shut the country down, get real with the terrorists, separate the natives, and get the hell out. Unfortunately, our politicians have forgotten the lessons of Vietnam. If you're in, you're in 100% -- with the goal to do the job and get out as soon as possible.<< Bill - In all seriousness, I think your plan is totally unworkable. Even the first step you describe is unworkable: "I would impose marshall law on all controlled areas of the country until all firearms are confiscated and weapons caches are found. In doing so, I would take no prisoners." I think my question, "What about the areas of the country we don't control?" is a valid reasonable question. Just one area of Baghdad, Sadr City, has over two million residents. Altogether, Baghdad has around six million. We do not control Sadr City at all, nor do we control the rest of Baghdad. We only fully control the Green Zone. How far are we going to get in our disarmament project there with the number of troops we have available? This would turn into a bloody, protracted battle in a dense urban center. Collateral casualties, as well as US troop casualties, would be enormous. Thirty days? Not even close. Then there is the rest of the country to consider. And don't you think that engaging in the kind of brutality that would be necessary to even attempt to implement that plan would alienate, enrage and radicalize an entire new generation of terrorists all over the muslim world? These are people who kill over cartoons! I'm appalled at the hubris and immorality of the idea of brutally subjugating the entire Iraqi population just so we can get our troops out while claiming victory. These are people we were supposed to be liberating from a brutal dictator. We're supposed to be bestowing the gift of Democracy upon them. Your second step is ordering the UN to step in, though you mocked my suggestion of involving that organization. Since the UN is not under our command, I'm pretty sure "ordering" them to get involved is going to work. But you really have to watch that first step. It's a doozy. - Allen