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2004-09-20 Iraq-Jordan

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Posted by Bulldog 2004-09-20 7:01:11 AM|| || Front Page|| [1 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Damm right on your comments Bulldog.

I was getting ready to say damm right Winston.

Posted by Sock Puppet of Doom 2004-09-20 7:13:58 AM|| 2004-09-20 7:13:58 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 I remember before the war reading a number of bleak worst-case scenarios, such as the 10,000 US casualties that would occur in taking Baghdad. I also remember people talking about another Lebanon. So the idea that these "secret documents" are a revelation is just silly.

Posted by V is for Victory 2004-09-20 1:10:59 PM|| 2004-09-20 1:10:59 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 Partition the country-- de facto, through rolling elections (ASAP in Kurd. and south, and later if ever in sunni triangle), and then de jure, once the Kurds have attained a pluarlity in the national assembly. Then move all coalition troops into long-term bases in the pro-US sovereign Republic of Kurdistan.

Posted by lex 2004-09-20 4:09:02 PM|| 2004-09-20 4:09:02 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 first, the kurds wont win a plurality, even if their is no voting in Sunni Arab areas - the Shiites outnumber them.

Second a Kurdish state would be seen as a blow against the arab world, and would hurt the US position in the arab world, if it had US support. third the Turks wouldnt support it. It would be landlocked between a hostile Turkey and a hostile (Shia dominated) rump Iraq. Only option would be alliance with Iran, not conducive to US bases.

Posted by Liberalhawk 2004-09-20 4:22:12 PM|| 2004-09-20 4:22:12 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 If enough Sunnis don't vote, the Kurds' hand will be one of the strongest in the new assembly.

Also, Pan-Arabism is dead. Better a muslim world split three ways-- sunni, kurd and iranian-iraqi shi'a-- and fighting among themselves than fighting against us. Divide and distract.

Finally, Turkey will not dare screw with the Kurds if they have a garrison of 100,000+ US troops forward deployed in Kurdistan AND if the US drops support for Turkish entry into the EU. Turkey already is tilting toward Iran, as are India and Russia. If the only way to signal that such support will not be tolerated by the US is to have a sizable number of troops on Iran's border in secure bases, then Kurdistan is the logical choice for such a deployment.

Posted by lex 2004-09-20 4:32:15 PM|| 2004-09-20 4:32:15 PM|| Front Page Top

13:48 Fred
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