Any solution for Iraq?

Question

As General Petraeus said the other week, there is no military solution, and negotiations must take place between faction leaders.

Even though I think none of these factions has ever been interested in sharing a country with the others, there are only two choices here: let the factions fight it out in the streets, or at least give them an incentive to negotiate at a table.

But there is no incentive if the capitol there is not secure. Until then ordinary Iraqis will hedge their bets and continue to seek protection from militias and wherever else they can find it, and the most brutal faction will always have the most power.

So, much as I think the war was a stupid mistake, should we let our increased forces secure Baghdad so negotiations among factions can happen, in the hope of a political agreement between them (thereby removing the need for factional violence)? Or is the problem that these factions will ALWAYS reject the idea of "Iraq" as a country, choosing death before unity?

Answer 1

The Americans, the Europeans, and even the Israelis really don't know what it is all about, do they? During the last generation, hundreds of thousands of children have been taught all over the Muslim world in madrass schools to become martyrs for Allah in order to kill the infidels.

These youngsters not only are ready to do it, but are actually in the process of doing it. Bombs are going off all over the world killing and maiming thousands of people, not only on 9/11 in the U.S., in London, Madrid and Bali, but in Africa, India, Bangladesh, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and many other places. The first signs of the Islamic tsunami are already here, but the West doesn't understand, or doesn't want to understand what is coming.

The Americans, instead of realizing that this is as bad as World War Two, or even worse, are going to pull out of Iraq, handing it over to Iran on a silver platter. Next may come the Saudis and the rest of the Gulf states.

When dirty bombs go off all over Western towns, who is going to stop the Iranians?

Answer 2

Support the Troops, send more Troops as needed. Stop whining and let the Troops do what is necessary to win.
As a nation we cannot afford to loose this war,which was started way before our president was elected.

Iraq is but one battle in the War on Terror. If we don’t have the fortitude and determination to see it through, the cost to America is going to be higher than anybody can imagine. No one wants to see American soldiers wounded or dying, but the fact is our military losses in this war have been incredibly low compared to any other conflict we have ever engaged in. If we don’t have the stomach to see this through, there are going to be some very hard days ahead for America. The solution is not quitting, the solution is not pulling out, the solution is not tying the President’s hands. If congress isn’t happy with how the war is being managed, they need to come up with some concrete, viable alternatives to what the administration is doing. Quitting IS NOT THE ANSWER, nor is it even an alternative. Leaving Iraq without settling the question of who is in control of the country is only going to cost more American lives in future battles, and in my personal opinion, show us to be extraordinarily weak. I am afraid the eventual outcome could be attacks on our soil that will make 9/11/2001 look like child’s play.

Answer 3

GEN Petraeus has a good plan and, for the first time in three years, we are actually going on the offensive. More soldiers will die and that's just part of being on an offensive, but if we're going to pull this thing out, we need to engage the people, fight the insurgents/terrorists/militias, and help the government become stronger and more influential within its borders.

I know this can work because it's working in my little part of Baghdad.

Answer 4

The main solution will have to come about by negotiations by all the parties -- Kurds, Sunnis, and Shias, along with Iran, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the US. One solution may be a 3-state loose confederation of Kurds, Sunnis, and Shiias. But that would probably be only a temporary solution. The only way for the fighting to stop is by all the major powers involved to withdraw any military arms aid that they are providing to the groups involved in the fighting. The US should pull out since there isn't a military solution on our end. They will fight until they get tired or until there are no people left on either side.

Answer 5

There is nothing the military can do, except fight when the fight comes to them. For every insurgent that dies, there are two more willing to pick up his/her gun. The only thing we are doing positive over there is lending medical aid to anyone we come across, and rebuilding what communities we can. No amount of offensive is going to bring order. We need to pull out most ground troops, and find away to set up some kind of international aid force that is mostly non-combative to help the innocent casualties. Fact it, it is a civil war, and the new Iraqi government isn't strong enough, nor willing to help it's own country.

Let me ask you Zack, have you been over there? Or do you just get your information from US media?

Answer 6

'I think the solution for Iraq should be through negotiations with leaders of all the sections involved.U.S.Administration&U.N.should play an important role in establishing a system of government suitable for Iraqi people.Once a government is formed in Iraq,all outside forces should leave the country but It should follow all the international norms.Any country can play useful role for the development of Iraq.& good luck to the people of IRAQ.

Answer 7

I see 2 classes of action... the Bush administration is doing neither and there are merely approximately on a daily basis assaults that have killed hundreds merely over the previous couple of months... is absolutely everyone naive adequate to call that stable... direction a million: greater martial regulation, greater troops to assist administration the insurgency... direction 2: greater alongside the strains of what pelosi suggested... with a timetable for withdraw.. at the instant we are form of straddling the fence between the two... no longer probably cracking down on the insurgents... yet additionally no longer probably focusing on preparing for an eventual withdraw... and it sort of feels that no longer something is getting performed...

Answer 8

i think we should ask the people of iraq first what really they want to if they really want Democracy or they want to be like this all the time Peace but not so peaceful enough or do they want to cooperate with us for so the troops can stay there in peacekeeping duty the way we look unto the situation its hard to pin point who controlled those faction that cause the trouble

Answer 9

This war should not be started at the first place.Now there is lots of people suffering.I think the best way is to start negotiations and give Iraq necessary help.

Answer 10

The solution is easy. 9 parts thermonuclear warheads to 3 parts delivery system