Should we be tougher on the Iraqi Army and MAKE them do their share of controlling their OWN Country?

Question

I do believe we have to be committed to winning this war but I am tired of doing it ourselves (with our allies).

The Iraqi's NEED to take a bigger role protecting their own country. I don't want us involved in their Civil War YET - we can't abandon them either...

Answer 1

That sound you heard was my jaw hitting the floor. Welcome to the "dark side".

Most liberals have been advocating forcing the Iraqis to stand up and be responsible for their own destiny since the war "ended". The problem is that we keep sending more troops, allowing them to sit back and do nothing. If we were to start a phased withdrawal, it would force them to step up to the plate. Otherwise, we are simply coddling them.

The war has been won. We have achieved all of the objectives set forth at the onset (with the exception of finding WMDs, but that's another story).

Currently, we are treating Iraq like a spoiled child, giving them whatever they want while they do nothing for us in return. It is time for them to grow up.

Unfortunately, building a billion dollar embassy there is only telling them that, once they do step up, we will still be there to babysit.

Answer 2

This is an astounding question. The U.S. invaded a country that was no threat to it, botched the "peace" after winning the war by not having enough soldiers on the ground to provide stability, and stands by while sectarian violence leads to a civil war. The Iraqi army, which was virtually dismantled by the U.S. is now supposed to "do their share of controlling their OWN country."

I have no illusions. The Americans will pull out of Iraq, leaving a mess that they created and giving the rest of the world yet another reason to be suspicious of American foreign policy. The situation in Iraq will deteriorate, resulting in countries on its borders invading. The U.S. will then get involved again, leaving yet another mess as it botches the intervention.

Iraq should never have been invaded in the first place. As it was invaded, all that can be done now, if the U.S. has any decency, is to try to minimize the damage. Unfortunately, that means staying in Iraq.

Those of us who don't live in the U.S. can make one observation: American was much better-behaved when it had another superpower, the Soviet Union, to keep it honest.

Answer 3

That would be a convenient way out for us.

Lets say Iraq was the powerful country and Iraqis ended up overthrowing the number one terrorist in the world George Bush. Then all of these crazy hillbillies from texas with shotguns didnt agree with their decision and battle the new iraqi goverment

Then Iraq decided now that we have installed this Iraqis based goverment we are going to leave. But you all have to pay us taxes for the next 50 years.

What do you think would happen in the USA?
Do you think that goverment would last very long?
The answer is no, the next 20 or so years would be complete chaos in the USA. Think about it in perspective

And just a note- it is the iraqi ilitary that are fighting in the rough parts of Iraq- are troops are predominantly in relatively safe zones. So you can imagine the casualties Iraq is suffering.

Answer 4

Hmmm. Ever occur to you that perhaps they're doing the best they can? That we expect disparate groups of people who (let's face it) really may not care much for one another to form a viable military?
That perhaps the reason that Saddam was able to successfully rule Iraq was the because he WAS a dictator and tolerated no dissent? (And no, I'm not excusing his actions either.)
That the Iraqis didn't ASK for this war to happen, and that perhaps they are just as reluctant to be blown apart as American troops are?
I agree with you that abandoning Iraq is not a good option. (We broke Iraq, we bought it.) But since I was against this war from its inception, I haven't got the answers...though I see NO good outcome. Iraq will probably be taken over by those fundamental militiant types, the very people that Saddam was supressing.
My only hope is for a UN peacekeeping force to step in a give it a go.

Barbara---great response!

Voice of the People---what you "heard" is the silly utterances of Chertoff, who uses "unnamed sources" for his so-called "info". Doesn't that give you a clue? And are you really naive enough to believe ANYthing this administration tells you?

Answer 5

this is a solid element for 2 reasons. One, the Iraqi government is beginning as much as prepare some intestinal fortitude in the direction of us and its enemies.... 2, if we've 'Iraqi government backing' while taking on any project, it justifies our presence and tension in those missions. in the event that they wont enable us to handle particular cities or communities, then its no longer our doing it is their own. this will additionally be a solid try for the Iraqi protection forces to work out how a techniques they have come.....they're being depended on extra heavily with the aid of this negotiation, if it is going via. This concerns me extra advantageous than something "yet Western diplomats say this is no longer likely the human beings could comply with any deal that ought to require them to hunt for permission from the Iraqi government for each protection tension operation." It we refuse to stick to this then we are rather telling anybody that we are occupying the rustic till we predict of its okay to bypass away....

Answer 6

How would you propose to force people to perform police duties - duties, that, themselves, demand the threat and use of force?

I question that there even /are/ Iraqis. There are Kurds, Shiites, Sunnis, Assyrians, Ba'athists - but I doubt you could find many Iraqis who'd say "I am Iraqi, and this Kurd here and that Shiite over there, and the Culdean hiding in the corner are all my Iraqi brothers."

Answer 7

What Iraqi Army?

Answer 8

The question is whether Iraqis want to win and form a stable society. It does not seem like their government or people really care at this point.

Answer 9

There in lies the problem, the Iraqi's can't build an army because they all hate each other!

Answer 10

Again the dems have been saying this since the war started to stink. You're becoming a dem RLP. Welcome.

Now just get off the "we have to be responsible for them" attitude and your conversion to the good guys will be complete.