Iraq: What would you do?

[NCclimber 0]

If you had the authority to set US policy for Iraq, what would you do to deal with this situation?

It's easy being a Monday morning quarterback. It's a whole lot more difficult calling and executing the next plays.

What do all the wizened SC spraymasters think?

How do you think your actions would effect long term global stability?

[livendive 8]

I think I'd continue with our security presence there...we made that mess, we owe it to the innocent Iraqi people our help in cleaning it up. I'd also start humbly pursuing honest diplomatic relations with the surrounding Arab nations.

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[rehmwa 2]

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wizened SC spraymasters

that's a new one

Somebody here had the idea of withdrawing into a very localized area and protecting that as a "Coalition Safe Area" - like Baghdad and the surrounding area.

Let those that want the protection we offer move to that area until the outlying groups kill each other off. Let the little area be an example for the rest of the country.

It has merit. Right now, troops will secure a city, the people will get a bit of hope, then the troops have to move out. The local crooks move back in and it returns to biz as usual. Frustrating for the troops, hard on the populace to be cycled.

As area like this would also be easier to turn over to the locals much sooner.

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Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[Amazon 7]

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wizened SC spraymasters

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that's a new one

To thine own self be true

[billvon 2,991]

My solution:

Pull most of our Iraq troops into Baghdad. Make the entire city a "green zone." Support the Baghdad government with our military, and set them up with excellent defenses/border controls. Let them do whatever they want with the outlying areas (since it is, after all, their country.)

Take the remainder and send them to Afghanistan to finish the job. Even now military planners are expecting a Taliban offensive come spring; we will need the additional troops then.

This achieves objectives sought by many people. The democrats can get a significant reduction in military deaths, since it will be a lot easier to pacify a city smaller than Los Angeles than a country the size of Florida. It will likely be possible to reduce the size of the military once the current violence is quelled; you could double the number of troops in Baghdad and still send the majority of US troops home.

Bush gets his desperately-needed "victory in Iraq." The primary objective of PNAC - a stable US-supporting democracy in the Middle East - will happen, albeit on a smaller scale. And since there will be constant border clashes, they will still have an active "war on terror" to point to when they need something threatening, or when they want more money.

Outside Iraq, the various regions would likely devolve to Afghanistan-style warlord control. Some will likely remain friendly to Baghdad. Some regions will support extremists like the Taliban, but that's no different than what we have now in Pakistan. Some will align themselves with the Kurds or the Iranians, which is also OK - it's up to them.

The city of Baghdad itself would likely become a Shi'a stronghold, controlled implicitly or explicitly by the US. That's important to many military types, because the last thing they want is a Shi'a country willing to ally with Iran (another Shi'a country.) Sunnis could stay or move to Baquba, Fallujah, Ramadi, Samarra or another traditionally Sunni city/area.

This voluntary division would also have the great advantage of heading off the threatening civil war by allowing the country to divide without as much bloodshed.

Finally, while violence will likely continue outside Baghdad, I strongly suspect it will decrease once the 'occupiers' have left. More importantly, it will not be US troops doing the killing; that will allow the emnity we've fostered in those areas to slowly die. No doubt it will be replaced by a new hatred, but at least we won't be directly fostering the development of the next anti-US hate group.

[idrankwhat 0]

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If you had the authority to set US policy for Iraq, what would you do to deal with this situation?

It's easy being a Monday morning quarterback. It's a whole lot more difficult calling and executing the next plays.

What do all the wizened SC spraymasters think?

How do you think your actions would effect long term global stability?

That's a tough question, there's a lot to consider. But while I was hammering out a solution my first step would be to NOT start a war with Iran and Syria and to threaten economic sanctions on any country who does.

[rehmwa 2]

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But while I was hammering out a solution my first step would be to NOT .......

I think the was the whole point of the post was to avoid the "NOT" comments.

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Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[IanHarrop 42]

Where's the option - turn back time and not go in there in the first place?

"Where troubles melt like lemon drops, away above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me" Dorothy

[idrankwhat 0]

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But while I was hammering out a solution my first step would be to NOT .......

I think the was the whole point of the post was to avoid the "NOT" comments.

One thing I've learned in the last six years is to go ahead and state the obvious because there's a good chance that it's not so obvious to the folks in charge. Besides, it doesn't matter how good the plan to secure Iraq is if we go to war with Iran. The point would be what a cow thinks.

[Zipp0 1]

Get out ASAP.

Send giant fruit basket with note attached:

Sorry we broke your country.

Sincerely,

USA

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Chuck Norris doesn't do push-ups, he pushes the Earth down.

[wmw999 2,447]

Get out ASAP.
Send lots money to current government for 3 years (number picked out of a hat -- other numbers could be justified as long as they're single digit).
Let them hire whoever they want to and pay them.

We broke it, we need to pay up.
But we're messing it up worse with our presence, and this is going to regardless be cheaper than paying for all the troop presence.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[Royd 0]

I still say that we should form a ten or twenty mile wide "no man's land" along all of the vulnerable borders and give our Navy and Air Force pilots something to do in their spare time. They have to keep up their hours, anyway.

Anything that moves in that zone gets destroyed.

After awhile the current insurgents will simply run out of ammo.

[narcimund 0]

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I still say that we should form a ten or twenty mile wide "no man's land" along all of the vulnerable borders and give our Navy and Air Force pilots something to do in their spare time. They have to keep up their hours, anyway.

Anything that moves in that zone gets destroyed.

After awhile the current insurgents will simply run out of ammo.

And as a bonus, all the children will starve to death!

First Class Citizen Twice Over

[billvon 2,991]

>And as a bonus, all the children will starve to death!

Not if you shoot them first.

[unformed 0]

I would put my hands behind my head and get a blowjob from the intern.

This ad space for sale.

[rehmwa 2]

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>And as a bonus, all the children will starve to death!

Not if you shoot them first.

Shoot half of them, then the other half won't starve.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[rehmwa 2]

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I would put my hands behind my head and get a blowjob from the intern.

that's not very efficient, you could also light up a cigar and multitask

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Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[billvon 2,991]

>Shoot half of them, then the other half won't starve.

Rehmwa, always the diplomat, comes up with the modest compromise.

[unformed 0]

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I would put my hands behind my head and get a blowjob from the intern.

that's not very efficient, you could also light up a cigar and multitask

Nope. My hands belong behind my head. The intern can light the cigar for me. That's why the public pays her.

This ad space for sale.

[shropshire 0]

Defend the oil fields and let the rest rot (further).



So, no change then

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[spudboy 0]

imagine if Iran invaded and occupied Mexico in the name of national security then set up a government that was friendly to them and contrary to the US, then publicly declared that they want this government to spread to the US and completly change our way of life, and then proceeded to tell the US that what is going on in Mexico is none of our business. No matter how ridiculous that sounds, that is what we have done to Iran. Untill we find a way to involve them in the solution, they are going to continue to be a major part of the problem. They definatly have the recources and the desire to constinue as long as we do. I also have an alternative plan, which is to set up internet cafe's all over Iraq and provide them with unlimited access to free porn. This would attract the same age group of males that the insurgency does and they would be too busy with their hands to take time to build IED's

[Zipp0 1]

I have said for a long time that they need booze and strip clubs. It's not 72 virgins or whatever, but it beats the shit out of blowing yourself up.

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Chuck Norris doesn't do push-ups, he pushes the Earth down.