http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_co...e_civil_war.htm
April 22, 2007 at 06:21:42
Unwinnable Civil War in Iraq
by Constance Lavender
http://www.opednews.com
Senator Harry Reid's comment that the war in Iraq is lost has generated much discussion and debate, and that is a welcome change in a nation that sent its sons and daughters to battle with a wink and a nod and nary a forethought.
Reid's comments, of course, will be used against him by the same administration, and its supporters, that has repeatedly failed to provide adequate body armor, insufficient troops to secure Iraq after invasion, and which has failed to provide for the health care needs of those wounded in a war waged under false premises.
Reid, however, was speaking about the "long war" that the administration claims the illegal invasion of Iraq is now. The real problem is the administration's failure to engage in an honest dialogue about its motives, goals, and strategy in, not only Iraq, but the greater Middle East. Indeed, the world.
Mr. Bush, never articulate on whatever topic he speaks, is even less clear on what American foreign policy is in the Twenty-first Century. No wonder the world holds America in such low esteem.
The fact is however, that American soldiers and sailors have successfully completed every ill-conceived task the President has laid before them: depose Saddam Hussein, establish a democratic government in Iraq, and secure the country for hand-over to Iraqi authorities.
The failure in Iraq is not a military failure; it is a failure of this American president and his misguided foreign policy.
That hand-over should already have happened. Instead the administration has put an unwinnable task before American armed forces that have already been overstretched and misused.
That is, Mr. Bush now expects American forces to be immersed in the middle of a foreign civil war: that's a recipe for disaster of immense proportions as history amply demonstrates. Take, for example, the French Revolution, or any of numerous contemporary examples such as Vietnam. The administration claims to be deploying a "new strategy," but what is that strategy really? Throwing more troops into a crucible of sectarian differences and civil hatreds. Mr. Bush has the authority to throw as many troops as he may within the Iraq civil war, however, the question the American people must decide is should he?
Troops are brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters... eventually Mr. Bush will find that he has no more troops to throw around because, in the end, troops are human beings.
Mr. Bush has always been heavy on patriotism and light on real solutions and answers. Look at New Orleans. How much more of his madness must we endure before we stay, "STOP!"
---------------------
My major agreement with the piece is the bold section...and while I am not
as anti-war as some of it, I believe it is a precursor for what the nation is coming to believe...
Thus, my opinion that we have a year to really get homegrown insurgents to fight al-Queda
before the populace of the USA demands at least redeployment, and at most a complete pull out.
If Gen. Petreaus can pull that off with encourgaement and support, while containing the Madi Militia...
just maybe we can come out to a support position without leaving a complete mess.
Full Version: Interesting op-ed on the changing war
Common Ground Common Sense > Issues that Affect Our Lives > U.S. Military Issues > Active Military Issues
QUOTE(Indianhead @ Apr 22 2007, 06:34 AM) 
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_co...e_civil_war.htm
April 22, 2007 at 06:21:42
Unwinnable Civil War in Iraq
by Constance Lavender
http://www.opednews.com
Senator Harry Reid's comment that the war in Iraq is lost has generated much discussion and debate, and that is a welcome change in a nation that sent its sons and daughters to battle with a wink and a nod and nary a forethought.
Reid's comments, of course, will be used against him by the same administration, and its supporters, that has repeatedly failed to provide adequate body armor, insufficient troops to secure Iraq after invasion, and which has failed to provide for the health care needs of those wounded in a war waged under false premises.
Reid, however, was speaking about the "long war" that the administration claims the illegal invasion of Iraq is now. The real problem is the administration's failure to engage in an honest dialogue about its motives, goals, and strategy in, not only Iraq, but the greater Middle East. Indeed, the world.
Mr. Bush, never articulate on whatever topic he speaks, is even less clear on what American foreign policy is in the Twenty-first Century. No wonder the world holds America in such low esteem.
The fact is however, that American soldiers and sailors have successfully completed every ill-conceived task the President has laid before them: depose Saddam Hussein, establish a democratic government in Iraq, and secure the country for hand-over to Iraqi authorities.
The failure in Iraq is not a military failure; it is a failure of this American president and his misguided foreign policy.
That hand-over should already have happened. Instead the administration has put an unwinnable task before American armed forces that have already been overstretched and misused.
That is, Mr. Bush now expects American forces to be immersed in the middle of a foreign civil war: that's a recipe for disaster of immense proportions as history amply demonstrates. Take, for example, the French Revolution, or any of numerous contemporary examples such as Vietnam. The administration claims to be deploying a "new strategy," but what is that strategy really? Throwing more troops into a crucible of sectarian differences and civil hatreds. Mr. Bush has the authority to throw as many troops as he may within the Iraq civil war, however, the question the American people must decide is should he?
Troops are brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters... eventually Mr. Bush will find that he has no more troops to throw around because, in the end, troops are human beings.
Mr. Bush has always been heavy on patriotism and light on real solutions and answers. Look at New Orleans. How much more of his madness must we endure before we stay, "STOP!"
---------------------
My major agreement with the piece is the bold section...and while I am not
as anti-war as some of it, I believe it is a precursor for what the nation is coming to believe...
Thus, my opinion that we have a year to really get homegrown insurgents to fight al-Queda
before the populace of the USA demands at least redeployment, and at most a complete pull out.
If Gen. Petreaus can pull that off with encourgaement and support, while containing the Madi Militia...
just maybe we can come out to a support position without leaving a complete mess.
April 22, 2007 at 06:21:42
Unwinnable Civil War in Iraq
by Constance Lavender
http://www.opednews.com
Senator Harry Reid's comment that the war in Iraq is lost has generated much discussion and debate, and that is a welcome change in a nation that sent its sons and daughters to battle with a wink and a nod and nary a forethought.
Reid's comments, of course, will be used against him by the same administration, and its supporters, that has repeatedly failed to provide adequate body armor, insufficient troops to secure Iraq after invasion, and which has failed to provide for the health care needs of those wounded in a war waged under false premises.
Reid, however, was speaking about the "long war" that the administration claims the illegal invasion of Iraq is now. The real problem is the administration's failure to engage in an honest dialogue about its motives, goals, and strategy in, not only Iraq, but the greater Middle East. Indeed, the world.
Mr. Bush, never articulate on whatever topic he speaks, is even less clear on what American foreign policy is in the Twenty-first Century. No wonder the world holds America in such low esteem.
The fact is however, that American soldiers and sailors have successfully completed every ill-conceived task the President has laid before them: depose Saddam Hussein, establish a democratic government in Iraq, and secure the country for hand-over to Iraqi authorities.
The failure in Iraq is not a military failure; it is a failure of this American president and his misguided foreign policy.
That hand-over should already have happened. Instead the administration has put an unwinnable task before American armed forces that have already been overstretched and misused.
That is, Mr. Bush now expects American forces to be immersed in the middle of a foreign civil war: that's a recipe for disaster of immense proportions as history amply demonstrates. Take, for example, the French Revolution, or any of numerous contemporary examples such as Vietnam. The administration claims to be deploying a "new strategy," but what is that strategy really? Throwing more troops into a crucible of sectarian differences and civil hatreds. Mr. Bush has the authority to throw as many troops as he may within the Iraq civil war, however, the question the American people must decide is should he?
Troops are brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters... eventually Mr. Bush will find that he has no more troops to throw around because, in the end, troops are human beings.
Mr. Bush has always been heavy on patriotism and light on real solutions and answers. Look at New Orleans. How much more of his madness must we endure before we stay, "STOP!"
---------------------
My major agreement with the piece is the bold section...and while I am not
as anti-war as some of it, I believe it is a precursor for what the nation is coming to believe...
Thus, my opinion that we have a year to really get homegrown insurgents to fight al-Queda
before the populace of the USA demands at least redeployment, and at most a complete pull out.
If Gen. Petreaus can pull that off with encourgaement and support, while containing the Madi Militia...
just maybe we can come out to a support position without leaving a complete mess.
Since every thing is just as it has been all this time, I hold Reid just as responsible as Bush.
I caught Mr. Harry Reid on C-Span earlier today, he addressed the Wilson Center. For the first time I was impressed with Harry and his words, it was quite a speech. I was drawn to the question however, of why are we democrats just now getting a spine, Harry did show some serious backbone and he said it like it is. I’ve been waiting since the 00 election to hear these tough words, I guess its better late than never. Now I’m curious to see if fellow democrats will back Harry and his words up with the appropriate actions to help solve today’s problems or will we see more spineless activity designed to avoid problematic elections.
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