Comments on: IRAQ: AS I SEE IT

By: Svenghouli

Svenghouli — Wed, 22 Mar 2006 07:52:13 +0000

I believe we entered the war under prepared, but we are stuck there. We need to resolve our problems. Cutting and running clearly not the message we need to send to the rest the world. What I find interesting is that the best course of action the insurgency can do is maintain calm until the US leaves. If they truly wanted to “liberate” the Iraqi people they would fight a weaker Iraqi National army after the US left. In my opinion, the reason why they didn’t undertake this concept is that their goal is not to “liberate” the Iraqi people. It is to try to make the US look bad. That is how they define victory.

By: tyk

tyk — Tue, 21 Mar 2006 22:09:01 +0000

Good post, Rick. Left wing bloggers and MSM seem to think Bush is fatally wounded. Even if this true (recriminations confirmed, they all cry), recriminations are still of no of no importance (except to those running for office). The only meaningful question is still the same: where do go from here?

By: 10ksnooker

10ksnooker — Tue, 21 Mar 2006 13:55:28 +0000

Iraq as I see it … the terrorists are hanging on, hoping they can bomb just long enough, that the antique media will save them. The laughable joke about nobody saw it coming, nobody planned, that just plays into the hands of the terrorists. How much more obvious can it be.

The number of people who died because of the antique media goading the terrorists on is just shameful.

By: picture of zoroastrianism

picture of zoroastrianism — Tue, 21 Mar 2006 07:44:11 +0000

The U.S. has a grave task at hand. Of course nobody saw it coming when the U.S. army entered Iraq. But that does not mean that it was not foreseeable. It just means that we do not have any good political chess players at or near the top.

Best

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 21 Mar 2006 05:15:51 +0000

Really good write-up Rick. It pretty much echos my thoughts for the past several months.

You hit upon what I believe is the most important point in this conflict: Winning this war is ultimately not in American hands. This is such a crucial fact that is almost always overlooked by both the MSM and the cons and neo-cons out there, but slowly it is seeping into the American consciousness. President Bush’s largest gamble with this war is his belief that Iraqi’s will unite under a free, national democracy. The stakes for this gamble are American blood, treasure and prestige, and we can only act as facilitators, and only for so long. It is rare when a President risks so much on a historically unique outcome that will be decided by others who have interests so different from our own.

I can only hope the Iraqis, and therfore America, are successful, but I am pessimistic. Democracy is best served when it comes from the grass-roots level. Given Iraq’s history and social structure I can see a lebanese-style deomocracy forming with different parts of the government controlled by different factions (this is already the case in many ways). Tribal influence and loyalty, sectarian tensions, and outside meddling by Al Qaeda, Iran and other countries will be the greatest long-term obstacles. Time will tell obviously if the Iraqis are up to the task.

By: And Rightly So! » Iraq: 3 Year Assessment

And Rightly So! » Iraq: 3 Year Assessment — Tue, 21 Mar 2006 02:53:41 +0000

[...] Since time is so rare these days for me to keep up with the news, I do depend upon other blogs for information. Iraq. The third year and all the protest “events” I heard about briefly a little while ago; the country is on the verge of a civil war…on and on. Blog friend Rick has it all summed up and it sounds neither good or horrible. Of course, all this boils down to improving the security situation. Which wonâ€™t happen until the army improves. Which wonâ€™t happen until the political situation improves. Which wonâ€™t happen until the militias are reigned in. Which wonâ€™t happen until the security situation improves. [...]

By: Raven

Raven — Tue, 21 Mar 2006 02:49:39 +0000

Wow…not an overly gleeful assessment but and honest one for sure. We need to be looking at reality here and you’ve done just that. I can never make sense of any of it when I listen to the news- and I don’t have time these days. LOL

Good post Rick and thank you for writing this. I feel like I have a better “grip” of the Iraq situation now.