I got questions...

I got no answers...

Published on April 7, 2004 By InfoGeek In Current Events

It’s bad now. It’s going to get worse. The smaller Iraqi groups are getting bolder and more organized. Nothing unites like a common enemy. And that leaves me with three general questions:

First: Did we have a contingent exit strategy? Did it include flexibility or at least the contemplation that there were people sympathetic to those who orchestrated 9-11 who might like the idea of continuing the struggle “up close”? Or did we think it was going to be Italy after the Germans left.

Second: What do we do now? Keep on keepin’ on. A plan of general containment, lifestyle improvement and slow loss of American life as our opponents are overtaken by those that support us?. It should work. Hefty price tag though.
Do we go “full boost bozo”? Respond with attack so destructive and so vicious that no one would dare try it again. Think Rome’s response to an attack on its citizens. Sort of like “The beatings will continue until morale improves”, or Sean Connery with “How do you get Capone”. This could work.
It would go against our grain, world outcry would be deafening. But, it would work.

Finally: Are we really going to turn over control of a nation with so many factions and so many willing to strap on the TNT? What happens on July 4, when the newly appointed Iraqi governing council starts passing laws not in our soldiers best interest?

Non-rhetoric comments anyone?

IG

Comments

Dylarama

on Apr 07, 2004

A) I do not believe we had an exit strategy; futher, I do not believe exit was every a consideration. We have to, and this is not rhetoric, at least entertain the notion that 'victory' was not the optimal outcome of this engagement.

Rome? Rome didn't do so well in this, despite the history you've heard. Rome's ability to appease lay primarily in its policies of inclusion -- the same as ours. When Rome completely refused to include, and allow cultural practices, etc., it failed as often as it succeeded.

C) This is Vietnam, not the Roman army marching through Gaul. We will,eventually, have to leave it -- yes, just leave Iraq in the hands of bloodcrazed terrorists. Eventually, it will become our only exit strategy. Who cares if the power shift happens in June? It won't make any difference.

We went into this war at the wrong time; it was bad timing internationally, domestically, and domestically within Iraq. Our brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, fathers and sons are over there in danger because of our administration's mishandling of the situation. Case closed. Is the world better off without Saddam? Not by a long shot -- it makes little difference, or perhaps worsens tensions. Did he need to be removed? Oh yes. And herein lies the problem. Whether you 'approve' of the war is immaterial. What is important is that this error in timing and diplomacy has gotten us into another Vietnam -- a war which with no possible victory, and no positive exit.

InfoGeek

on Apr 08, 2004

I do not think this is Vietnam. There we never had total control of the land and air.

We now have almost total control of the country and are facing a small but well organized very religious, reactionary force that use terror and horrific acts to further their cause. A religoius force that is opposed to our beliefs.

This is another Northern Ireland.

IG

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