Pentagon Update on "Pacification" Progress

[DistressedAmerican]

If only it were this simple. Rumsfeld thought it would be. Boy, was he wrong!

Distressed American
http://www.seedsofdoubt.com/distressedamerican/main.htm

[DistressedAmerican]

1. Just in the past week or so,

From the BBC:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4160479.stm

INSURGENT VIOLENCE MOUNTS
10 Jan: Baghdad deputy police chief and son shot dead
7 Jan: Seven US soldiers killed in bomb attack in Baghdad
6 Jan: Bodies of 18 Iraqis contracted to work at US base found outside Mosul
5 Jan: At least 25 Iraqis killed in three separate attacks in central Iraq
4 Jan: The governor of Baghdad, 14 Iraqis and five US soldiers killed in separate attacks
3 Jan: More than 20 people killed in a day of violence across Iraq
2 Jan: At least 23 Iraqi soldiers killed by a car bomb in Balad

We lost 30 soldiers last week. I remember when they were saying his presidency wouldn't survive a soldier a day body count.

As I sit here, I realized that I don't really know how people on this site feel about the war. I suspect few are happy. How would you proceed from here?

I believe that the best thing we could do at this point is cut our losses and start bringing folks home following the election on the 30th. Call it a great victory for democracy or some crap like that and hope for the best. I think rather than creating stability, we are just siding up with the Shi'ites and Kurds in a civil war that is (contrary to reports) already underway. We are creating as much or more instability by having the troops there.

On the other hand, we saw what things looked like immediately after the fall of the regime. A return to total chaos would be a disaster. The one thing I know for sure is that we never should have gone. Now we are caught up in an extended nightmare. Some days I think I have it figured out and others I haven't a clue what I'd do at this dismal point.

Are you folks for staying, coming home, increasing troop numbers, reducing troop numbers?

[gratuitous]

2. I was for never whacking this hornet's nest in the first place

But since Lil George couldn't be dissuaded and we have whacked the hornet's nest, here's what we need to do:

Number 1, declare Iraq to be in an interim situation. Call off the January 30 elections, and declare that the United States is no longer going to call the shots in Iraq.

Number 2, pledge to the UN all cooperation needed (this includes troops under UN authority, material, and most importantly MONEY) to bring about free and fair elections in Iraq.

Number 3, urge the UN to proceed with all deliberate speed to set up an interim authority in Iraq, which would be guaranteed and protected by the United States, but over which we would exercise no authority whatsover. We have effectively given up any claim to credibility in running Iraq, and should give the country over to the UN for preparation in turning it over to its people. We should stay on the hook financially, because of our nation's overweening hubris and pride.

[DistressedAmerican]

3. I like your suggestions a lot

but, they beg the question what if the UN can't or won't take control? Bush did screw them as badly as anyone in recent memory.

[gratuitous]

4. My understanding

My understanding of the UN's reluctance to get too heavily involved in Iraq is mostly because of the depradations the U.S. is currently inflicting on the situation. Every time the UN has proposed something -- reasonable, unreasonable or whatever -- the U.S. has been quick to shoot it down as an infringment on our authority.

If the U.S. just said, "Run it the way you see fit, we'll lend advice and expertise, but the final decision is yours," I think the UN could put together a credible interim authority that would gain the respect of much of the population, defuse some of the popular support for the insurgency, and put Iraq on the road back to self-governance.

The major problem, of course, is that the BFEE using Iraq to loot millions every day, and they aren't famous for letting other people "meddle" in their affairs. Sadly, I see the greatest stumbling block to peace in Iraq as American arrogance.

[DistressedAmerican]

5. That's very true,

No command and control has kept a lot of nations from joining the effort as well. Maybe that would blow the international commitment wide open? That sounds like pretty solid thinking to me.

Of course, imagine the Bush secrets that would suddenly be out of their immediate control.