[Rhodes22-list] Political: "Winning" the war in Iraq

[Robert Skinner]

OK, Rummy, I'm with you.
Let's stir things up a little.

There's no such thing as "Winning" the war in Iraq.

There is such a thing as tracking down terrorists 
and killing them wherever they are -- if and only 
if we ally with our neighbors on this planet.

------------------------

There have been so many defections from the Iraqi 
legislature that they will no longer have a quorum.

So they cannot accomplish the objectives laid down 
as the basis for the "surge" (read: continuation 
of the occupation of Iraq by the military-industrial 
complex that Eisenhauer warned us about in the '50s).

I did not nor do I believe now that we can impose the
mechanisms of 21st century government on a society 
that clings to 7th century ideology.

I sent the included message last year (see "Original
Message"), and have no reason to change my position now.

------------------------

Getting out of Iraq is no dishonor to the many US 
fighting men and women who have died following the 
orders of our president.  It is we at home who 
dishonor them by allowing Bush and his sycophants 
to stay in power.

We were wrong to go there.
We are wrong to think that we can solve their problems.
We are wrong to think that we can stop terrorists there.
We are wrong to prop up a government that cannot function.

We are wrong and cowardly to accept the erosion of our 
constitutional rights by a deceitful megalomaniac.

Time for a reality check!

------------------------------

That should set the cat among the pigeons.  Have fun 
while I am gone.  I hope that the list survives in its 
barroom form.  Good sailors have many interests, and 
will congregate where discussion is not limited.

Now I have to go pack for a trip, careful to avoid
carrying a pocket knife lest I be branded a terrorist.
I and the rest of the passengers should instead be 
carrying sufficient fire power to fend off an attempt
to hijack the plane.

Robert Skinner

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-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Political/Historical: "Winning" the war in Iraq
Date: Mon, 13 Nov 2006 18:06:46 -0500
From: Robert Skinner <robert at squirrelhaven.com>
Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>

"Winning" the war on terrorism:

Herb, unless and until we nail Osama and his next couple of 
levels of command, and I mean dead, destroyed, vaporized 
without any holy relics left, and continue taking heads of 
islamic AND other terrorists for the next ten years, until 
the terrorists are terrified wherever they are -- this 
"war" cannot be nor will it be won.  

It will not be won on the land by occupying armies.  It 
will be won in the minds of those who want to enjoy a 
peaceful existence, and those who would disrupt states in 
the name of any ideal.  It will be won when decent people 
will not regard harboring terrorists as the only way to 
avoid personal poverty, death and destruction.  

The world is no longer carved up into nationalistic 
fiefdoms.  Like it or not, all borders are porous.  And 
some people are both pissed off and effective.  Others will 
channel the pissed off people's disaffection to their own 
ends.  All politics may be local, but the terrorist is and 
will be international.

If ever the term "police action" (so incorrectly applied in 
the past) was ever justified, this situation is the proper 
nominee.  And the neighborhood cop better form a good 
relationship with the community, or he is dead or 
ineffective.

Concerning Iraq, specifically:

I have said in the past, and I will say again -- the 
problem in Iraq is a civil war between Kurds, Shiites, and 
Sunnis.  

Just as the czars, Stalin, and his successors were only 
able to hold Russia together with dictatorial power, so 
the politically convenient kludge of 20th century Iraq 
will only be held together by another dictator such as 
Saddam.

We must not allow ourselves to be captivated (or impaled) 
by the horns of a false dilemma -- the options for our 
relationship to Iraq are not "stay the course" or "cut and 
run".  Rather, we must strip away the political fog 
obscuring our vision and recognize the current realities 
of Iraqi socio-political dynamics.

So far, it can be effectively argued that our "help" in 
Iraq has been on the whole divisive and destructive.  It is
time to clean up our act and put force where it is needed, and 
keep our hands off where our efforts will do no good.  And, 
with the help of any and all deities and other good 
advisors, gather and attend to the intel to understand the 
difference.

/Robert
-------------------------------------------------------------
Herb Parsons wrote:
> ... If we lose this war, it will only be because of leaving
> before we win. If we do that, you can bet our enemies will
> decide that we no longer have the stomach or will to win a
> war. 9/11 will seem like nothing compared to what will be
> headed our way.