nemesis_juggernaut writes:
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Sectarian rivalry is a problem within the Islamic community, and as you alluded, always has been. But should we forsake it all over this fact, or should we establish order in Iraq and gain a new and much needed ally in the Middle East?
I'm not talking about forsaking anything; the idea of a stable, democratic Iraq where Sunni and Shia share power and work together is pretty much off the table now, already forsaken. It's a lovely thought, but it's grossly unrealistic. Even the president seems to have dropped that nonsense, apparently wanting now to commit to nothing more than, to use your words, establishing order.
What I'm talking about is acknowledging facts and informing our policy with those facts. If Iraq's history is any indication at all, then even under the best possible scenario the most we can do is maintain some measure of peace through force. Tensions will continue to simmer and, be it five, ten, twenty or however many years from now we finally do pull out, the whole thing will fall apart into a continuation of the very civil war that's going on right now. Unless we find some solution completely different than what we're trying to achieve right now (whatever that happens to be these days, no one seems to be able to clearly explain it. Perhaps you can?) then sectarian war is inevitable and all we're doing is wasting the lives of the men and women we're sending over.
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I think military strategists would really like to make Iraq a new home for a few air bases because of its central locality. They can't achieve this until the hostilities subside.
You're worried that we're not going to have permanent military bases in Iraq? That's why you want us to stay there? Has anyone consulted with the Iraqi people to see whether they'd be amenable to American military bases being permanently established in their country? Would their opinion matter to you?
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What is your suggestion in how we should handle it.
Make like the Brits and get the hell out. Quit meddling in internal Arab affairs.
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Clinton wanted to be the one guy to reconcile the Palestinians and Israelis. But he wasn't able to achieve it no matter how hard he tried.
You're right, and it's probably true that regardless of whatever altruistic motives Clinton might have had, he probably had some selfish motives, too. What president wouldn't want to be remembered by later generations as a great peacemaker?
I'm not sure what kind of analogy you're trying to draw here, but I think it's worth mentioning that Clinton didn't start any wars in the Middle East.
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I think now that Rumsfeld resigned that we are better off than ever were with him. Notice how many people left the Administration abruptly, but most prominently, Colin Powell, who I believe would have made a far better Secretary of Defense. There has been a lot of mismanagement in the Iraq conflict because the SecDef was not listening to his commanders on the ground, who, lets face it, feel like their hands are tied behind their backs.
You're making my case for me. I don't see how you reconcile these sentiments with your continuing support for the president's policies.
W.W.E.D.?