Reply #89: your entire argument is based on politics - that's not a plan for success

[welshTerrier2]

first of all, many who advocate "out of Iraq now" have a much more extensive policy for Iraq ... we've called for all sorts of support for rebuilding Iraq internally both politically and economically ... and we've called for a wide array of regional diplomatic solutions as well ...

thanks for mischaracterizing our position in such a trivial way ...

secondly, many who support "Out of Iraq now" understand that the presence of US troops is providing a crutch to the current Iraqi government and that they have very few incentives to kick us out even though that's the will of the Iraqi people ...

third, we've done a terrible job by allowing many of the troops we've trained to turn around and attack their own countrymen ... we've provided some excellent training to Shia militia so that they can repress the Sunnis and destroy their neighborhoods ... that's what happens when you try to solve a political problem with your military ...

fourth, 45% of Iraqis said it's OK to kill their American occupiers ... by what perspective of US imperialism do you believe we have a right to remain there?

fifth, any policy that calls for remaining in Iraq is implicitly arguing that with bush in charge, things will be better by remaining than by leaving ... why are you convinced that giving bush even one more day in Iraq is in the best interests of the Iraqi people or the American people? is that what you consider a "plan for success"?

and finally, what's truly sad about your proposal is that it ONLY focussed on the effect of Iraq on future Democratic candidates ... i suppose you can consider that a "strategy" but it's hardly a "plan for success" ... and, even accepting your political argument, what strategy will you be recommending in 2008 if Democrats still are the minority party? more war? and how about in 2010? more war? and in 2012? more war? will you argue, irrespective of the fact that we are doing harm in Iraq and have no right to be there, that we can't chance having the republicans paint a negative image of our candidates? Murtha said it could take 25 years to fully train the Iraqi troops ... will you still call for this policy of protecting Democratic candidates even then??