President Bush laid down an impassioned defense of his Iraq policy yesterday, saying the United States must stay in the fight despite an escalating death toll, increasing calls for the withdrawal of U.S. troops and growing public sentiment against the war.
While acknowledging that raging sectarian violence and mounting U.S. casualties in Iraq are "straining the psyche of our country," Bush said that withdrawing U.S. troops before the nation is stabilized would be disastrous.
"Leaving before the job would be done would send a message that America really is no longer engaged, nor cares about the form of governments in the Middle East," he said. "Leaving before the job was done would send a signal to our troops that the sacrifices they made were not worth it. Leaving before the job is done would be a disaster, and that's what we're saying."
2007-06-16 09:25:44 · 8 answers · asked by Native1 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Government
Essentially, we broke Iraq, and we must fix it. I agree that pulling out does not fix Iraq - at least at the moment. But continuing with what we are doing does not fix Iraq either.
Perhaps Iraq is irretrievably broken. I do not think so.
We must get Iraq's neighbors involved in stabilizing the country. Unfortunately some of them are in the business of de-stabilizing it. That is not in their interest and somehow we must make them understand that.
We must be willing to let go of our vision of democratic Iraq. The goal is no longer democracy, it is peace and stability. If it takes a dictator, let it be a dictator. If it takes breaking up the country, let the country break up. If it takes a theocracy, let the mullahs have their way.
We must somehow get the millions of educated, middle class Iraqi's who have left the country to return. When they left, they took the economy with them. There can be no success without an economy.
I don't know how to do any of these things. But if our goal is to simply fight insurgents while supporting the do-nothing government of Iraq because its 'democracy', then we will lose.
2007-06-16 12:31:27 · answer #1 · answered by jehen 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The President is right. Much of the current violence is being instigated by outsiders. It is complicated by the dual loyalties of many who are in government uniforms, but also act for their sect, Somehow the clergy and elected government must rein in the 'militias' - indeed disband them or better still get them to work in building, not destroying the infrastructure.
I cannot understand why the 'revenge mentality' which followed the removal of Saddam is still being perpetuated. It has cost far more innocent lives than the war itself did. (I regard the Bush/Blair war over in 2003 - the current one is an "insurgent" war)
Get more talks going - declare an "insurgent" amnesty to clear the 'revenge mentality', disband all the 'militias' and get Al Qaeda and Iran out of the equation
2007-06-16 18:18:56 · answer #2 · answered by Pat M 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The "job" getting "done" as he puts it, requires the development of workable government in Iraq, or at least that's how we must understand him.
I believe we can rightfully suspect the administration of being more afraid of forfeiting American business potential (see incredibly humongous embassy construction project, permanent bases, oil fields, Halliburton, KVR, etc) through allowing the "wrong" government to develop.
The Iraqi population has become thoroughly disillusioned with the United States and our motives for being there. We should also be introspective regarding our motives for being there.
2007-06-16 16:39:12 · answer #3 · answered by MidwestWally 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Leaving now would be disastrous. The "death toll" is still far below the death toll of any other war in our history so that's a moot point. I agree 100%.
I have pictures of Iraqis interacting with our soldiers. They don't look disillusioned with us in the least!!!!!!!!!!
Signed,
The mom of a soldier currently defending our country in Iraq
2007-06-16 16:31:08 · answer #4 · answered by freeatlast2200 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
We cannot win this war because the Iraqi Population can't decide what they want! You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink! Until Iraq gets their sh*t together we are just wasting our time, military and resources. Until all their sects decide they have had enough of killing nothing productive can happen. Its too bad but there you have it!
2007-06-16 17:21:43 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
A Lesson Not learned from Viet Nam: If people have few resources a small army and possess only the will to exist, the only thing left to do is not attack, sit back, wait, let them come to you and beat them down! Enough said?
2007-06-16 16:51:29 · answer #6 · answered by Stormchaser 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
lol, popularist politics at work in its best. Stupid americans electing a stupid president and ended up getting into stupid messes.
2007-06-16 16:34:13 · answer #7 · answered by PinkFlamingo 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
he is correct but still doesn't have an answer on how to win
2007-06-16 16:30:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋