What is missing?

[whosinpower]

I've listened to the various rhetoric about the war in Iraq. Stay the course.....get out now....winning vs losing.

Seems to me that one fundamental problem with American politics is that so far, we have not had adequate leadership regarding selling the nation to war under false pretenses. This is where Cindy Sheehan speaks to the people. She addresses a dilemma.

How can a patriotic individual who is against the premise of the war compensate for wanting the nation to win even though the war was sold under false pretenses. It is a dilemma. Losing now would result in catastrophic results for the US, Iraq, and the world in that increasing instability in the middle east threatens us all. There is a blowback factor that we should recognize. I can understand this. What I fail to understand is the blatent pass on accountability that the democrats have instituted regarding the march to war.

There must be a way to resolve this dilemma. Americans increasingly want answers. So does the world.

A possible set of scenario's to alleviate the dilemma -
1. set a flexible timetable for withdrawel.
2. Send Iraqi troop trainees out of the country for adequate training and only ship them back when they have completed their training.
3. As each new group of Iraqi troops are implemented - draw down the same in American troops.
4. Plan for 300 000 Iraqi troops to help guarentee stability and security.
5. Ask the UN to take over overseeing the withdrawel and Iraqi troop training on an international basis. Have the UN oversee shipping these people out of the country for training in a variety of nations.
6. Bush must either resign or face war crimes or both.
7. Iraqi's must take over running the prisons.
8. Withdraw much of the US embassy - downsize it.


In no way does this appear that the US is "cutting and running." What it would do is recognize that the occupation is a large part of the problem with increasing insecurity. It recognizes that the US invaded a nation under false pretenses and it internationalizes the solution to secure Iraq, train their troops to maintain stability.

I listened to nutcase Hitchens on the Daily Show the other night. He said basically that there was nothing wrong with "exporting American democracy" and that everyone should be on board to this. In my foreign mind, this is just doublespeak for imperialism, American style - and this is something I cannot help but reject.

So.....think I am crazy?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. No

I just nominated this for the greatest page. Personally, I think training Iraqis outside of Iraq may be a good idea, but I doubt if Americans would want them training here-fearful of terrorists infiltrating the ranks.

I like making Bush stand for war crimes.

[whosinpower]

4. Currently insurgents are targeting

These Iraqi troops when they are traveling, where they are meeting and before they have even completed their training. And, their training itself is insufficient - as is their equipment.

I think getting them entirely out of the country - away from insurgent attacks...allowing them the time, effort and sweat to be properly trained with good equipment would go a long way to resolving allot of issues facing these guys.

And I think they should be sent to a variety of nations - not just one or two. This is where the UN can help. Send some to Russia - send some to Australia, Britain, Japan, etc. Send some to Canada - we offered to help train troops. Have each of these nations outfit these troops with good up to date equipment. This is a way to internationalize the effort without it looking like these troops were puppets to the US.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. this could work

yeah, I like it.

[Richard Steele]

2. Recommended. I would also suggest...

...that the USA begin paying REPARATIONS
for the death and destruction we have inflicted
upon so many innocent Iraqis.

And also that ALL US CORPORATIONS need to be kicked
out of Iraq.
They have created as much hatred as our bombs have,
and removing them is an ESSENTIAL issue to many/most Iraquis.

[Horse with no Name]

3. Absolutely

You speak to my heart.
We have now been in Iraq 2 1/2 years.
If you look at the military deaths...there are many 18 year olds dying in this war.
Which means...these 18 year olds were 15 1/2 yrs old when this war started.
There has been AMPLE time to train Iraqi troops.