Reply #76: Iraq Is A Far Bigger Mess

[KharmaTrain]

The shame of our corporate media who has totally ignored what has gone on inside Iraq. It created a lot of misinformation in the run-up and the first couple years of the invasion and now have given some a false sense that things there have pacified or "gotten better". It's easy to say that when we really know so little of the internal politics that are happening.

At best, we'll leave an Iraq that Joseph Biden all but got chastized for several years ago...partisianed between Sunni, Kurds and Shiites. Baghdad was pacified by walling off sections of the city...a Beirut in the offing...with all parties awash in arms and revenge. This is the Iraq we deal with today...and one where a quick withdrawl is sure to trigger a power scramble. Now that war can happen while we're there or after we're out. The quicker we pull troops, the sooner that ultimate battle begins. A slower pull-out would give cover to the Central government and in turn keep all the factions in check, making a withdrawl possible.

Lastly, there's the famous Colin Powell Pottery Barn rule. We broke it, we've bought it. This country has a responsibility to try to leave in a far more humane and professional manner than we barged in. Our military has been hung out to dry by this illegal invasion and a bug out would give fodder to the wingnuts who used Vietnam to demonize Democrats and turn the military into a wingnut incubator. Right now what good would it be to bring back all the troops along with the mercenaries and turn them loose in an economy in its worst shape in 70 years?

Now we can just give each soldier an airplane ticket home...but there's other things that need to come home as well. Do we leave all the hardware we've poured in over the years? And if so...who gets it? Or do we just let 'em fight for it?

There are no easy answers here. Again...my greatest regret was that this nightmare happened in the first place.

Cheers...