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

To: Mary Cluney who wrote (210134)	12/8/2006 2:56:19 PM
From: cnyndwllr	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Mary, I agree with much of what you say but not when you write that "We have nothing to lose if we adopt the Baker/Hamilton plan." Our sensible choices are to get out fast, or get out faster. We should acknowledge that we've failed in Iraq, that the mission is not doable and that to delay the inevitable is foolish and costly in terms of treasure and, more importantly, in terms of blood. Any option that extends our involvement in Iraq while we tilt at windmills is unacceptable. The primary question should be "how can we get out quickly while causing the least damage," rather than "how long can we hang on in Iraq praying that our silly assumptions concerning Iraq will miraculously prove out?" The need to effect some kind of "least chaotic" exit is the only valid reason for not pulling out tomorrow. By providing a date certain we will, at least, have given the Iraqis an opportunity to work together to reduce the bloodshed. If they can't do so given a drop dead date, then they can't do so. There WILL BE BLOODSHED, the only question is how much and how long before they find some kind of equilibrium or separation. And part of that will be on our heads. We're the ones that unleashed the dammed waters in one foolish blast when we should have left Iraq alone to dismantle the dam more slowly. But accepting moral responsibility for a foolish blunder does not change the fact that we cannot repair the breach. The floodwaters have, and will, wash away many in Iraq but it is what it is. That's something that poorly informed electorates who elect poor leaders must accept. Some times you break things you can't repair. It's not the first time this country has done that and it won't be the last. Maybe we'd have been smarter and more cautious as a nation if we'd some idea of what it's really like to have your homes torn apart by war. In the meantime, however, we still have all those "honor and glory of war" fools to worry about. Too bad. Ed