Monday, September 13, 2004

Time to Consider Iraq Withdrawal

from The London Financial Times
The core question to be addressed is this: is the continuing presence of US military forces in Iraq part of the solution or part of the problem?

2 comments:

gecko said...

I'm afraid the views expressed in this editorial are rather poorly thought out. Any percieved timeline for withdrawal will certainly be met with cunning and patience by the terrorists. I realize the situation is messy, but this editorial has exaggerated the situation. To suggest a complete withdrawal by the US, when time and training are needed to get the security forces of Iraq up to par with their terrorist enemy is ludicrous. As a "former" occupying power, yes, we are obligated to get the Iraqis on track to the best form of democracy that is suited to them. We can't just abandon them to become another Iran or Syria. Al the foreign lead terrorists want is a US withdrawal so they can fill the void with more hate and an oppressive theocratic caste system. Is this really what "progressives" want?

Sheryl said...

I saw a report that said that Iraq is now pumping 2.5 million barrels of oil each day and 80% is being exported out of the country. And a lot of it is going to the US.

Until the US can account for all the funny recordkeeping in the Food For Oil program before the handover (and even now we are talking about a government that the US hand selected where the Ministry of oil is expected to coordinate with some guy from Shell.) It seems to me this amounts to theft on a grand scale.

So setting aside the military involvement, the American oil execs need to be removed from the country ASAP. I think that might get some attention faster than suggesting a cease fire.