Surge of surges
By Michael J.W. Stickings
According to a new Gallup poll, Americans oppose Bush's anticipated escalation of the war in Iraq by a wide margin: 61% against, 36% for. Support for the president's "new" strategy may turn out to be "higher than this baseline minimum," but, overall, "the American public in general opposes the concept of an increase in troops in Iraq".
Bush's approval rating is similar: 37%.
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With the details of the surge to be announced tomorrow, I recommend this interview of Leon Panetta, Clinton chief of staff and member of the Iraq Study Group, by Newsweek's Michael Hirsh. Panetta says that the surge will "[send] the wrong message to the Iraqis," that military commanders told the ISG that "additional troops" were not needed, that the ISG was told that "while it was questionable a surge could work, it could provide some political cover for withdrawal," and, in conclusion, this:
The Iraq War has been a disaster. That isn't about to change no matter what Bush says tomorrow night.
Does anyone actually believe that Bush and the warmongers will get this right after all they have gotten wrong?
According to a new Gallup poll, Americans oppose Bush's anticipated escalation of the war in Iraq by a wide margin: 61% against, 36% for. Support for the president's "new" strategy may turn out to be "higher than this baseline minimum," but, overall, "the American public in general opposes the concept of an increase in troops in Iraq".
Bush's approval rating is similar: 37%.
**********
With the details of the surge to be announced tomorrow, I recommend this interview of Leon Panetta, Clinton chief of staff and member of the Iraq Study Group, by Newsweek's Michael Hirsh. Panetta says that the surge will "[send] the wrong message to the Iraqis," that military commanders told the ISG that "additional troops" were not needed, that the ISG was told that "while it was questionable a surge could work, it could provide some political cover for withdrawal," and, in conclusion, this:
We had an American general tell us that if the Iraqi government doesn't make political progress then all the troops in the world won't make any difference.
The Iraq War has been a disaster. That isn't about to change no matter what Bush says tomorrow night.
Does anyone actually believe that Bush and the warmongers will get this right after all they have gotten wrong?
posted by Michael J.W. Stickings at
11:14 PM
1 Comments:
Using their bad track record to justify an automatic rejection of their current plan is no better than their own 'stay the course' policy.
You have to judge it on its own merits. And the first thing you need, in order to do so, is to clear out the preconceptions that 'no amount of troops will make a difference' or that its determined to fail.
No war is predetermined. That's why we fight them. History is full of setbacks (Washington almost lost the Revolutionary War), strange victories, and twists of fate. You can NOT say that Iraq is a hopeless case.
So take a look at what they're planning. From what I hear, it goes far and above a mere surge. It includes a coordinated plan to provide security, improve employment opportunities, and work with the local Iraqis. There are some positive signs, though it will take a while for them to fully blossom.
But outright rejecting the latest policy is no more logical than automatically supporting it.
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Anonymous, at 7:30 AM
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