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2007-10-03 Iraq

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Posted by Steve White 2007-10-03 00:00|| || Front Page|| [3 views ] Top
File under: Iraqi Insurgency

#1 I don't think we are to the point of WINNING in Iraq. Rather, we are getting to the point where we can allow Iraq to find its own path without Rwanda-level genocide. Maybe. It seems to me the country is heading towards self-partitioning, and even though there have been and will continue to be, a lot of sectarian murders, it shouldn't get into the millions. I hope.
We are getting to the point where the kids think they are big enough to go off on their own. We'll have to let them - and pray the State Trooper doesn't come to the door at 3 am. The cell phone call from them saying they wrecked the car but aren't hurt, or even asking for bail money, we can handle.
We aren't going to like how Basra and the south turn out - but there really isn't much we can do about it (short of invading Iran, and we lack both the political will and military resources to do that right now.) Sunnistan will stumble on, with some painful adjustments to the neighborhoods in the Baghdad area. The Kurds will be a bigger issue to the Turks and Iranians than to the rest of Iraq. I don't think any of them will be virulently anti-American, though like most of the world, they will talk that way.
It won't be like Japan after WWII. Or Vietnam. More like Korea. Not a loss but only kind of a win, for now. Learn our lessons and prepare for the next round, wherever that turns out to be. There WILL be another round.

Posted by Glenmore">Glenmore 2007-10-03 08:03|| 2007-10-03 08:03|| Front Page Top

#2 The argument of this articlethat with nothing more to resolve from political violence, Iraqis can now settle down to gorge themselves at the oil troughis based on two premises: Sunni acknowledgement of the failure of their insurgency and the need to reach an accommodation with the new Iraq, and a conjunction of interests between the coalition on one hand and the Kurds and Shias on the other.

And a third, that when not otherwise constrained Arabs don't prefer to resolve the inevitable conflicts of daily life through gratuitous violence.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2007-10-03 08:47|| 2007-10-03 08:47|| Front Page Top

#3 Still, an interesting read. It even made me peruse the author's books at Amazon, via Fred's portal, of course. Bartle Bull. Interesting name, eh, wot?

Posted by Bobby 2007-10-03 11:19|| 2007-10-03 11:19|| Front Page Top

#4 TOPIX > GETTING IT: THE WAR IN IRAQ IS OVER + USA HAS WON IN IRAQ AND MIDDLE EAST. Articles - Spetzies have gener lost - only a question of 'em realizing it. USA not leaving Iraq, and Islamists-Insurgents + Iran don't have the power = armed force nor enuff CamelKazes to make the USA leave. Next US stop IRAN???

I still say 'tis PREMATURE, but IMO Radical Islam is intent on waging a final battle/campaign for Iraq proper.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2007-10-03 23:37|| 2007-10-03 23:37|| Front Page Top

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