September 9, 2003
WE WON, COME HOME:
The US's choice in Iraq (Barry Rubin, -Sep. 8, 2003, Jerusalem Post)
Dear President Bush: You are at the crossroads in Iraq. If you handle the crisis properly you will be seen as victor and win reelection; otherwise you will be reviled as a total failure who led the US into an unnecessary war.What is the key? Don't forget the reason you sent US troops to Iraq, and don't let foolish pride drag you into an endless, unwinnable war that will drive you from office.
The US attacked Iraq to remove Saddam Hussein and prevent him from obtaining weapons of mass destruction. This has been accomplished. Saddam will not be making a comeback and the terrorists who are now attacking American troops will not take over Iraq.
The task of the US government at this point is to set up a broad-based government in Iraq and leave.
There is no question of pacifying Iraq. The support the American presence enjoys there which is considerable is based on the supposition that it will not stay too long. If US forces are still in Iraq by next summer, opposition will grow; if you leave sooner, the American intervention is more likely to be remembered as liberation.
As for the idea of transforming Iraq into a model democracy, forget it. The conditions are not right, by a long shot.
Home by Memorial Day. Posted by Orrin Judd at September 9, 2003 12:31 PM
What happened to your march on Damascus?
Posted by: Harry Eagar at September 9, 2003 2:33 PMDear President Bush: You are at the crossroads in Iraq. If you handle the crisis properly you will be seen as victor and win reelection. If you wimp-out you will suffer the electoral fate of your dad.
You invaded Iraq to get the attention of the terror-supporting nations, like the old joke about hitting the mule with a two-by-four. It's starting to get results, so stay strong.
Iraq probably won't become New Hampshire, but there is no reason why they shouldn't do as well as Turkey. (And better than Vermont.) That would be a crushing blow to the Islamists. Hold fast.
They are testing our resolve right now. Ignore these peevish quagmirists. They lack bottom. Even if Iraq were hopeless, (which it isn't, those people are just as smart as we are) it would be fatal to back down now by even an inch. By historical standards this isn't even a war. In real battles we've lost this many men in the space of a minute or two.
Don't blink. Don't come back without scalps.
Posted by: John Weidner at September 9, 2003 2:56 PMIsn't that what you predicted before _last_ Memorial Day?
Get a clue: rightly or wrongly, soldiers will be in Iraq for years, just like Afghanistan. On the brighter side, we'll probably start withdrawing substantial numbers of troops in 6 to 12 months, so our overall commitment might be considerably reduced by Memorial Day.
Harry:
That too would get them out of Iraq, but I think you have to do Nporth Korea first at this point.
Posted by: oj at September 9, 2003 3:56 PMPeter:
No, I said I'd prefer that, but that Memorial Day 2004 was the more likely Administration target. We were always going to be gone by the re-election campaign.
Posted by: oj at September 9, 2003 3:57 PMJohn:
As long as he doesn't raise taxes he won't lose. No one cares about Iraq per se.
Posted by: oj at September 9, 2003 3:58 PMThe people American don't care about Iraq, (except maybe me, but I'm an oddball.) but they care deeply about flinching.
I think the real reason Bush senior lost the presideny was not because of taxes, but because he left our enemy wounded but not killed. Americans couldn't express their doubts clearly, what with everyone proclaiming joyous victory, but we knew things just weren't right.
Posted by: John Weidner at September 9, 2003 4:25 PMooops, I meant "American people", not "people American"
Posted by: John Weidner at September 9, 2003 4:27 PM