CAN WE HAVE A PLAN, PLEASE?
As I was watching the usual suspects appear on Sunday morning "poli-talk" TV ("Meet the Press" et al), I was struck by two things: 1) politics, which has always been a full-contact sport, has turned into a Darwinian free-for-all, ala "Lord of the Flies." I saw a democrat and republican, who were running for the same senate seat, get into a verbal scrap that reminded me of two little boys quarreling over their Hot Wheels cars, only with louder voices and better vocabularies. 2) Plans for Iraq are vague at best. The republican basically said let the generals and the president handle it, and the democrat said we need an orderly withdrawal from what appears to be a civil war. In other words, put the Iraqis on notice that they must take over.
If you read "Where Date Palms Grow"'s last two entries, you will realize that the Iraqi government seems to be up to its neck in nasty militia business, which is no news to the U.S. military. These militias are responsible for the burgeoning practice of kidnapping entire groups citizens--who are most often found bound, tortured and dead.
So I think it is safe to say this war is not going well. The violence in Baghdad just surpassed a new high today, and we, the U.S. seem unable to control it in any significant fashion, and the Iraqi government seems unable or unwilling to rein in the militias, who are running Baghdad like their own personal abattoir.
So what do we do? Do we stay the course? Do we ship more troops to Iraq so we can attempt to control the violence? Or do we start a gradual pull-out, putting the Iraqi government on notice that we are leaving, and that they can't hide in the Green Zone forever? Or do we pull out now--in the next six months?
What do you think? What is a reasonable plan? And how can it be implemented? This question is for anyone to answer!
As I was watching the usual suspects appear on Sunday morning "poli-talk" TV ("Meet the Press" et al), I was struck by two things: 1) politics, which has always been a full-contact sport, has turned into a Darwinian free-for-all, ala "Lord of the Flies." I saw a democrat and republican, who were running for the same senate seat, get into a verbal scrap that reminded me of two little boys quarreling over their Hot Wheels cars, only with louder voices and better vocabularies. 2) Plans for Iraq are vague at best. The republican basically said let the generals and the president handle it, and the democrat said we need an orderly withdrawal from what appears to be a civil war. In other words, put the Iraqis on notice that they must take over.
If you read "Where Date Palms Grow"'s last two entries, you will realize that the Iraqi government seems to be up to its neck in nasty militia business, which is no news to the U.S. military. These militias are responsible for the burgeoning practice of kidnapping entire groups citizens--who are most often found bound, tortured and dead.
So I think it is safe to say this war is not going well. The violence in Baghdad just surpassed a new high today, and we, the U.S. seem unable to control it in any significant fashion, and the Iraqi government seems unable or unwilling to rein in the militias, who are running Baghdad like their own personal abattoir.
So what do we do? Do we stay the course? Do we ship more troops to Iraq so we can attempt to control the violence? Or do we start a gradual pull-out, putting the Iraqi government on notice that we are leaving, and that they can't hide in the Green Zone forever? Or do we pull out now--in the next six months?
What do you think? What is a reasonable plan? And how can it be implemented? This question is for anyone to answer!
posted by mariestaad at 1:48 PM
2 Comments:
OK so you want a real reasonable, efficient plan? I can give you the first few steps toward truely reconciling and moving Iraq forwards. A way to bring credibility to a government thats otherwise seen as almost pointless.
Step 1) Take a section of land in the desert twice the size of the Green Zone. Build blast walls around the whole thing, 20 feet tall just like the ones in Baghdad. Make it into a "politics state" (like the Australian Capital Territory which was built to house the Australian Federal Politics) which is dedicate to politics, it only has to be a small patch of empty desert that has been built into a paradise with accommodation, hotels, art galleries, parliamentary houses and all those other things politicians like to have; all those things that are in the greenzone.
step 2) evacuate Saddam's palaces (the Green Zone)
Step 3 [and possibly the most significant step]) DESTROY THE PALACES, making sure every Iraqi accross the globe see's and celebrates this moment. Fireworks and the whole lot you know. A day to REMEMBER as being a STEP FORWARD.
Step 4) build water treatment plants and new power stations in the former Green Zone (while Blast Walls and security measures are still in place, so sabotage is not possible). This step is designed to bring Baghdad up to an acceptable level of electrical supply and increase the supply of fresh, running water.
Step 5) With whatever land is left over build parks for the Baghdadi population to enjoy picnicking and relaxing on the shore of the Tigris, just like they had during Baghdad's peak times. That is what they really want.
after that, the next steps should be a hell of a lot easier. It will destroy the image of "replacing one dictator with another". It will reinforce the idea of "building a new Iraq". It would show the Government are SERIOUS about undoing the harm Saddam and other extremists have done to their country.
Unfortunately, I don't see the politician's getting off their ass and doing this. If only they would listen to me...
I think that is an amazing plan, Olivebranch! Iraqis rebuilding Iraq is probably a good way to restart things.
My favorite president of the US is George Washington because he never ran for office. He never stood on a podium and made "promises". The people who elected him did so after seeing his bravery and patriotism while he, himself, fought in a war for freedom. He did not want to be president, but took the position as a civil duty to his country. Where has this idea gone?
The upcoming elections sicken me with all of the vague ideas you are mentioning! I also agree that there is more mudslinging going on than anything else. All the time these well educated, politically exeperianced Americans are coming up with the most clever attack on their opponent, people overseas are dying. People are starving just outside their suburban homes with gates. I might be wrong, but it seems with all of those Harvard degrees they might come up with an actual plan. Sometimes I just wish I could make people care.
Post a Comment
<< Home