Harold Meyerson makes some good points in his recent column questioning what the US role is in a country devolving toward civil war. His points demonstrate the empty rhetoric inherent in the “stay the course” mantra.
First, our presence there is not stopping a civil war. It’s happening anyway. Bush’s claim that there is no civil war because people recently voted for a government is sheer nonsense. Look at the numbers of people dying, not at the spin.
Second, our presence in Iraq IS stopping us from doing anything else anywhere else. From Iran to North Korea to Lebanon and beyond, we are utterly helpless to do anything except beg and plead for the rest of the world to listen to our position, something it is in no mood to hear from us.
Third, it is not possible to articulate what role US soldiers would play in an intra-Islamic war. This is a war for reasons we understand little, and have no power to change. The only possible role for us would be to acknowledge the cruel reality that Iraq cannot be governed in a united democratic fashion, and to facilitate its split into its Kurdish, Shiite and Sunni parts with as little bloodshed as possible.
Having created this catastrophe it is incumbent on us to face reality now, and do what it takes to settle the crisis quickly and bring our soldiers home. This “stay the course” crap does nothing but delay resolution until after Bush leaves office, allowing him to blame his successor for whatever mess remains when the smoke clears.
No related posts.
Comments on this entry are closed.