"Look the point of me bringing all this up isn't to just rehash the past..."
Quite possibly it is nothing but.
"...but rather to understand why we are in Iraq so that we can form a more coherent strategy about what to do there."
For those of us who already understand why we are in Iraq, we see our strategy beginning to take visible form. Have you noticed the plaintive calls by Iraqi spokesmen to discuss joint operations with the turkish? I'm encouraged by the possibilities as they inevitably require coordination in some manner with the KRG. The issue can no longer be ignored at the convenience of AMERICA's discomfort by Iraq or Kurdistan.
I use this modest example of what is unfolding- a viable Iraqi gov't. The speed doesn't suit your taste thus it's worthy (I suspect) of our departure as "unsolvable". We will depart over time. Afghanistan demands as much and so do other potential contingencies in Europe.
Our strategy, however, does require a stable and secure Iraq with the real opportunity to fashion a modern and pluralistic arab democracy. It is entirely possible despite claims of an Iraqi brain-drain. There are indications of this condition reversing itself. The institutions will grow in fits and starts, as I earlier indicated. But they WILL grow. Given time, common sense of the costs of exclusion will slowly emerge into better use of Iraq's human capital. Efficiencies will emerge within both the private and public sector.
Again, Kurdistan has been a perfect example of growth where security prevails. It has been so since virtually the beginning. It COULD have been this way in ALL of Iraq despite our oafish early efforts. It's turning that way now.
For Iraqis who've now looked down the barrel of civil war, there's sufficient rejection to begin building some real momentum. You know this. You also know that despite 160,000 U.S. troops, this is and will remain for some time a tenuous and tedious process.
Your patience and perseverance are being tested. There will be no total withdrawal nor shall their be a precipitous drawdown. It will be slow and measured as events allow.
Events allow as Iraqis learn immutable lessons of self-governance that require advice and consent (remember the great book?). We've applied pressure. So too the parliament's constituents. It's shown of late in the newly generated legislation.
Sorry, stud. It'll be a while in both A-stan and Iraq.
Read "
LEARNING TO EAT SOUP WITH A KNIFE" by Nagl. Our learning curve is dramatic. Insurgencies are long work. Read about one of our successes as Americans-
The Hukbalahap Insurrection
The strategy is sound. A democratic Iraq is a shot across the bow of every repressive arab/muslim regime throughout the region. We are profiling the region-no question. It is correct to conclude that more 9/11s will eminate under any guise (Al Qaeda today, JAM tomorrow) from a region of such utter backward discontent.
Until proven otherwise, democratic governance and principles of free and unfettered trade seem the only reasonable start-point from which to battle over the long-term this liklihood. It must start and has in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The strategic alternative is not dis-engagement. That was validated on 9/11. The strategic alternative is open war, conquest of fossil based fuels and lay waste to our enemies.
That seems unnecessary at present. I sure hope it stays that way. That's why I tell my Turkish buddies here to be nice and help Iraq. I tried to tell my Pakistani buddies elsewhere the same about Afghanistan...
They laughed and called me real bad names.
I worry about Pakistan. I wonder if they need a new perspective? Maybe we could help with that whenever we get done in Iraq. What do you think?