The Smart Surge: Diplomacy By Wesley K. Clark

[rodeodance]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/07/AR2007010700980.html

The Smart Surge: Diplomacy

By Wesley K. Clark
Monday, January 8, 2007; Page A15

..........
The administration views a troop surge of modest size as virtually the only remaining action in Iraq that would be a visible signal of determination. More economic assistance is likely to be touted, but absent a change in the pattern of violence, infrastructure enhancement simply isn't practical.



Yes, several additional brigades in Baghdad would allow for more roadblocks, patrols and neighborhood-clearing operations. Some initial successes would be evident. But how significant would this be? We've never had enough troops in Iraq. In Kosovo, we had 40,000 troops for a population of 2 million. That ratio would call for at least 500,000 troops in Iraq; adding 20,000 now seems too little, too late.

Further, U.S. troops so far have lacked the language skills, cultural awareness and political legitimacy to ensure that areas "cleared" can be "held." The key would be more Iraqi troops, but they aren't available in the numbers required. Nor are the Iraqi troops reliable enough for the gritty work of dealing with militias and sectarian loyalties. Even if militia fighters in Baghdad can be temporarily suppressed, they could redeploy to continue the fight in other areas.

What the surge would do is put more American troops in harm's way,...........

[Wesin04]

1. Clark was right

As he usually is on these matters, Wes Clark has laid it out and called it right. He's been beating the drum for a political and diplomatic solution to this fiasco for years. His appearance in August of 05, along with 3 other retired generals, showed his insight and his vision as he was the only one who correctly predicted where we'd be in Iraq at this time. The others had those flowers still being strewn. To let bush and this neocon administration know you want this madness to end, go to http://securingamerica.com to sign the petition he just put out yesterday to send to bush.