TROOP SURGE
January 11, 2007
by: jovial_cynic
by: jovial_cynic
A prompting by a comment by the conservative manifesto on my previous post has lead me chat a bit about Bush's current plan for Iraq.
What is the goal, Mr. President?
Previously, the stated goal was to topple a dictator and provide democracy to the Iraqi people. Saddam is now dead, and the Iraqi people have their vote. Mission accomplished.
... oh wait.
The US toppled one violent ruler, and now there are many violent rulers, and the land is now a haven and training ground for groups interested in killing Americans, and the life of Iraqi civilians is far worse now than it was before the war. Bush stated in his speech, "Failure in Iraq would be a disaster for the United States." Would be? It appears that failure has already been achieved. The mission has failed. What we are seeing on the streets of Baghdad is the consequence of that failure.
Oddly, Bush describes the consequence of failure in a tone that suggests that failure is still a future event, and one that we can avoid. Note the verb tense used.
The consequences of failure are clear: Radical Islamic extremists would grow in strength and gain new recruits. They would be in a better position to topple moderate governments, create chaos in the region, and use oil revenues to fund their ambitions. Iran would be emboldened in its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Our enemies would have a safe haven from which to plan and launch attacks on the American people. On September the 11th, 2001, we saw what a refuge for extremists on the other side of the world could bring to the streets of our own cities. For the safety of our people, America must succeed in Iraq. (emphasis mine)
As a side note, the president should be reminded that the 9/11 attackers didn't come from the aftermath of a failed war. They didn't come from a battle-torn land, but instead came from US-friendly Saudi Arabia, where oil profits run freely into the pockets of wealthy supporters of the president.
That said, the "America must succeed" rhetoric needs to die. It is Iraq that must succeed. The US should view itself as support for the higher goal of rebuilding Iraq. Unfortunately, until the sectarian violence ends, there is no such thing as "Iraq." There is only a disconnected people, and wave after wave of violence crashing down on all sides. Without a unified people, there is no nation.
A change in plan
Bush:
The most urgent priority for success in Iraq is security, especially in Baghdad. Eighty percent of Iraq's sectarian violence occurs within 30 miles of the capital. This violence is splitting Baghdad into sectarian enclaves, and shaking the confidence of all Iraqis.
This new priority is good. The goal of increasing security for the Iraqi people after exposing them to such horrible violence is the right thing, and it certainly requires additional troops. By resecuring Iraq, the Iraqi people can finally organize and begin rebuilding their nation.
...and America can have another functional puppet government in the Middle East.
What is the goal, Mr. President?
Previously, the stated goal was to topple a dictator and provide democracy to the Iraqi people. Saddam is now dead, and the Iraqi people have their vote. Mission accomplished.
... oh wait.
The US toppled one violent ruler, and now there are many violent rulers, and the land is now a haven and training ground for groups interested in killing Americans, and the life of Iraqi civilians is far worse now than it was before the war. Bush stated in his speech, "Failure in Iraq would be a disaster for the United States." Would be? It appears that failure has already been achieved. The mission has failed. What we are seeing on the streets of Baghdad is the consequence of that failure.
Oddly, Bush describes the consequence of failure in a tone that suggests that failure is still a future event, and one that we can avoid. Note the verb tense used.
The consequences of failure are clear: Radical Islamic extremists would grow in strength and gain new recruits. They would be in a better position to topple moderate governments, create chaos in the region, and use oil revenues to fund their ambitions. Iran would be emboldened in its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Our enemies would have a safe haven from which to plan and launch attacks on the American people. On September the 11th, 2001, we saw what a refuge for extremists on the other side of the world could bring to the streets of our own cities. For the safety of our people, America must succeed in Iraq. (emphasis mine)
As a side note, the president should be reminded that the 9/11 attackers didn't come from the aftermath of a failed war. They didn't come from a battle-torn land, but instead came from US-friendly Saudi Arabia, where oil profits run freely into the pockets of wealthy supporters of the president.
That said, the "America must succeed" rhetoric needs to die. It is Iraq that must succeed. The US should view itself as support for the higher goal of rebuilding Iraq. Unfortunately, until the sectarian violence ends, there is no such thing as "Iraq." There is only a disconnected people, and wave after wave of violence crashing down on all sides. Without a unified people, there is no nation.
A change in plan
Bush:
The most urgent priority for success in Iraq is security, especially in Baghdad. Eighty percent of Iraq's sectarian violence occurs within 30 miles of the capital. This violence is splitting Baghdad into sectarian enclaves, and shaking the confidence of all Iraqis.
This new priority is good. The goal of increasing security for the Iraqi people after exposing them to such horrible violence is the right thing, and it certainly requires additional troops. By resecuring Iraq, the Iraqi people can finally organize and begin rebuilding their nation.
...and America can have another functional puppet government in the Middle East.