It appears that President Bush actually called 60 Minutes for an interview. In the interview he presented a challenge to the Democrats thinking of opposing his “troop surge” plan. He said that if they cut off funding for the surge, they better be prepared to tell the American public THEIR plan for Iraq.
He has a point. The Democrats, as of now, only plan to oppose HIS plan; they have NO plan of their own.
This is to say that pulling our troops out and letting the Iraqis conclude their de-facto CIVIL WAR is not an acceptable plan or is it. Bush says that just pulling out would allow our enemies to control Iraq and that would endanger the U.S. down the road.
What he is actually talking about is IRAN and there are indications that Iran is supporting the Shia majority in Iraq with weapons, etc. A nuclear Iran / Iraq partnership under the current Iranian leadership, would pose a much greater danger to the U.S. than poor ole’ Saddam ever did.
Condoleezza Rice is frantically traveling in the Middle East trying to drum up support for Bush’s plan by waving the possibility of a U.S. pull out with the inevitable rise of Iran as the big bully in the Middle East; something the Sunni countries like Saudi Arabia, et. al. are deathly scared of. Rice is saying – help us contain Iran or suffer the consequences!
Rice is also now trying to help the Israelis and Palestinians reach some type of accord; something Bush never gave a shit about before BUT NOW when he is desperate, he is saying, see - if you help us we will help the Palestinians – finally! I guess he is begging!
In the interview on 60 Minutes, I sensed that Bush knows he fucked up but believes his intentions were good and in the best interest of the country. He is desperate to find a clean solution to this nightmare but is willing to prolong the suffering until his presidency is over and THEN it becomes the problem of the next guy.
I did not sense that he believed a victory was possible AT ALL. He now sees that the Iraqi/Shia government is just waiting for the Americans to leave so they can finish the job and consolidate power under a THEOCRACY like that in Iran. That fat little cleric SADR is licking his chops already at the prospect of total power!
So what can the Democrats do? Senator Levin already voiced his concern about shutting Bush down and Levin is a big cheese in the Senate. Without a plan to hang their hats on they would appear just silly obstructionists and worse, allowing the remaining troops to be cannon fodder; not a good political position for retaking the presidency in 2008.
I say force the idiot to adopt the recommendations of the “Iraq Study Group”; instead of just shooting people, look for a political solution. Talk to the surrounding countries; see what they have to say. Explore a division along religious and ethnic lines: Kurd, Shia and Sunni. Allow them self determination in their respective regions but join them into a “weak” confederation that would JUST be there to distribute oil revenues – equally based on a per capita basis.
And here is the biggie; the U.S. would have to guarantee, militarily, that this loose confederation will be left alone by all other countries. This would entail leaving a small military force inside Iraq for a long time like we have in Germany, Japan and Korea – but the shooting will stop.
This plan may entail the disarming of the SHIA militias as well as the smaller Sunni militias – hey, it’s the price of peace – anyone have a better plan?
He has a point. The Democrats, as of now, only plan to oppose HIS plan; they have NO plan of their own.
This is to say that pulling our troops out and letting the Iraqis conclude their de-facto CIVIL WAR is not an acceptable plan or is it. Bush says that just pulling out would allow our enemies to control Iraq and that would endanger the U.S. down the road.
What he is actually talking about is IRAN and there are indications that Iran is supporting the Shia majority in Iraq with weapons, etc. A nuclear Iran / Iraq partnership under the current Iranian leadership, would pose a much greater danger to the U.S. than poor ole’ Saddam ever did.
Condoleezza Rice is frantically traveling in the Middle East trying to drum up support for Bush’s plan by waving the possibility of a U.S. pull out with the inevitable rise of Iran as the big bully in the Middle East; something the Sunni countries like Saudi Arabia, et. al. are deathly scared of. Rice is saying – help us contain Iran or suffer the consequences!
Rice is also now trying to help the Israelis and Palestinians reach some type of accord; something Bush never gave a shit about before BUT NOW when he is desperate, he is saying, see - if you help us we will help the Palestinians – finally! I guess he is begging!
In the interview on 60 Minutes, I sensed that Bush knows he fucked up but believes his intentions were good and in the best interest of the country. He is desperate to find a clean solution to this nightmare but is willing to prolong the suffering until his presidency is over and THEN it becomes the problem of the next guy.
I did not sense that he believed a victory was possible AT ALL. He now sees that the Iraqi/Shia government is just waiting for the Americans to leave so they can finish the job and consolidate power under a THEOCRACY like that in Iran. That fat little cleric SADR is licking his chops already at the prospect of total power!
So what can the Democrats do? Senator Levin already voiced his concern about shutting Bush down and Levin is a big cheese in the Senate. Without a plan to hang their hats on they would appear just silly obstructionists and worse, allowing the remaining troops to be cannon fodder; not a good political position for retaking the presidency in 2008.
I say force the idiot to adopt the recommendations of the “Iraq Study Group”; instead of just shooting people, look for a political solution. Talk to the surrounding countries; see what they have to say. Explore a division along religious and ethnic lines: Kurd, Shia and Sunni. Allow them self determination in their respective regions but join them into a “weak” confederation that would JUST be there to distribute oil revenues – equally based on a per capita basis.
And here is the biggie; the U.S. would have to guarantee, militarily, that this loose confederation will be left alone by all other countries. This would entail leaving a small military force inside Iraq for a long time like we have in Germany, Japan and Korea – but the shooting will stop.
This plan may entail the disarming of the SHIA militias as well as the smaller Sunni militias – hey, it’s the price of peace – anyone have a better plan?
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