tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7152221.post114462756978267920..comments2024-03-23T07:49:50.940-05:00Comments on The Middle Ground: Iraq Liberation Day and Civil WarUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7152221.post-1144861755739580642006-04-12T12:09:00.000-05:002006-04-12T12:09:00.000-05:00Alise and Anonymous,Its true that building a gover...Alise and Anonymous,<BR/><BR/>Its true that building a government and consensus, thus peace and prosperity is a long term project without quick fixes and that we have been working diligently towards that. I would submit that I advocate on a daily bases on this blog for our forces to continue that job and do the utmost to maintain security while helping the Iraqis become proficient at it themselves.<BR/><BR/>I also don't see todays violence as anymore than yesterdays or last year for that matter. Nor do I believe we should give up easily in the face of these attacks.<BR/><BR/>My only point is that we should not be looking at this through such a narrow window that we do not understand what is at play in Iraq. Its much more than forces who find democracy anathema to their existense. If it was, I would not have discussed or pointed to the possibility of a civil war and suggested withdrawal in the face of such a war.<BR/><BR/>Understand, the war I speak of is not simply anti-democratic, but in fact a war about vengence, money, territory, power and even religious ideology. And that is just the Shia.<BR/><BR/>I don't want to be blinded to the fact that you may hand someone their liberty and every opportunity to use it constructively with education and all the tools that we can muster and yet they may decide that war may be required to settle their differences.<BR/><BR/>I am hoping not. In reality, I was waiting patiently for the outcome of the political process and the formation of the government, but these sides are sticking to their guns (so to speak) to such a degree that compromise seems a long distant dream. Thus, Ja'afari becomes Lincoln and his assured ascendence to the role of PM against the wishes of half of the assembly seems tantamount to the last straw. Worse, if no government is formed and they don't set an immediate election date for a new assembly (which is the current law in Iraq) because some don't want it and refuse it, then it may mean civil war.<BR/><BR/>This is only a discussion of the possibilities, not an advocation of immediate withdrawal. It's why I signed the United Families petition because I don't want us to do something silly for political gain here that ruins all efforts there.<BR/><BR/>All I'm saying is, if it breaks into open civil war, we should not take sides and should withdraw to the outer fray to simply keep others out as well until it is settled.<BR/><BR/>Until then, I agree that our men and women have worked near miracles to date in a land with so much bitterness and history of destruction that no power on earth could have done much better and no people could have performed to such a standard in the midst of hostile situations except those we now have in uniform and our erstwhile allies. I pray everyday that their efforts on behalf of the Iraqis will not be squandered either by wishy washy politicos here or by the Iraqi people.<BR/><BR/>But, with all due respect to the Gold Star families and others, please allow me to keep the blinders off and the options open should things out of our control determine the future.Kathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05208095650375780838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7152221.post-1144783012394116332006-04-11T14:16:00.000-05:002006-04-11T14:16:00.000-05:00If Iraq turned to Civil war and we sat by and did ...If Iraq turned to Civil war and we sat by and did nothing, then all the sacrifices of our men and women who serve so gallantly in our military will be for naught. We took out Saddam and now we need to stand up and make sure the job is finished by seeing peace evolve in that nation. Right now we should all be saying thanks to all Gold Star families for what they have given....and lost!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com