Training Iraqi troops no longer driving force in U.S. policy
By Nancy A. Youssef, McClatchy Newspapers, 19 April 2007
WASHINGTON – Military planners have abandoned the idea that standing up Iraqi troops will enable American soldiers to start coming home soon and now believe that U.S. troops will have to defeat the insurgents and secure control of troubled provinces.
[ Read the report ]
Hat tip: Antiwar Radio: Scott Horton Interviews Justin Raimondo
The last thing the Middle East’s main players want is US troops to leave Iraq
By Hussein Agha, The Guardian, 25 April 2007
In common with neighbouring states, Iraqi Shias, Sunnis and Kurds are united in being able to use the Americans’ presence to pursue separate and often conflicting political agendas. The grand disconnect in the region is between the political sentiments of ordinary people, which are overwhelmingly for an end to occupation, and the political calculations of leaders, which emphasise the benefits of using the Americans and consequently of extending their stay – at least for the time being.
In this grim picture, the Americans appear the least sure and most confused. With unattainable objectives, wobbly plans, changing tactics, shifting alliances and ever-increasing casualties, it is not clear any longer what they want or how they are going to achieve it. By setting themselves up to be manipulated, they give credence to an old Arab saying: the magic has taken over the magician.
How freaking ironic is it that BushCo and neocon misfits sold us on the dominoe effect. A free Iraq woul set off a series of dominoes that would replace the sheikdoms and tyrants with democracies.
Now, we have the domino effect as the latest reep fear factor canard. Leaving Iraq would replace the sheikdoms, tyrants and failing democracies with theocratic states that are hotbeds for AQ.
Sad and pathetic. Iraq: FUBAR within an enigma.
When I read Hussein Agha’s article I immediately thought of an essay written by Gabriel Kolko prior to the ’04 presidential election, the year a known war criminal was returned to office by a citizenry that time and again is given no real choice in these elections yet doesn’t complain too awfully loud about it.
Anyway, this is the Kolko essay I recalled.