May 31, 2007
GOD FORBID WE LEAVE MILLIONS OF IRAQIS IN THE SORT OF TYRANNY WE LEFT THE NORKS:
White House envisions "Korean model" in Iraq (Los Angeles Times and The Associated Press, 5/31/07)
President Bush would like to see the U.S. military provide long-term stability in Iraq as it has in South Korea, where thousands of American troops have been based for more than half a century, the White House said Wednesday.Posted by Orrin Judd at May 31, 2007 11:24 AMWhite House spokesman Tony Snow told reporters Bush believes U.S. forces eventually will end their combat role in Iraq but will continue to be needed in the country to deter threats and to help handle potential crises, as they have done in South Korea.
The United States has kept forces in South Korea since war erupted with North Korea in 1950 and currently has about 30,000 troops there.
"At some point you want to get to a situation in which the Iraqis have the capability to go ahead and handle the fundamental matters of security ... so that if you need the ability to react quickly you can be there, but the Iraqis are conducting the lion's share of their business," Snow said.
I'm sure that someone around here had had the understanding and foresight to have predicted a long-term presence by the world government, analogous to that in Korea.
The problem with this is that the enemy has not yet been crushed and will therefore continue to pick away at our occupation personnel. Americans in Iraq will continue to die, just like Iraqis in Iraq, if only at a reduced rate.
Ever sensitive to the rectification of names, I must object to Snow's use of the word, "deter." Our presence in Iraq will never "deter" the enemy. If anything we provoke him. On the contray, we operate as a catalyst, a precipitating factor, drawing the enemy out and concentratng him for destructiom.
What might deter the enemy would the credible threat of resistless force, such as that reported in some circles to have been applied to Pakistan to secure their cooperation with respecst to Afghanistan.
Posted by: Lou Gots at May 31, 2007 12:20 PMI'm sure that someone around here had had the understanding and foresight to have predicted a long-term presence by the world government, analogous to that in Korea.
The problem with this is that the enemy has not yet been crushed and will therefore continue to pick away at our occupation personnel. Americans in Iraq will continue to die, just like Iraqis in Iraq, if only at a reduced rate.
Ever sensitive to the rectification of names, I must object to Snow's use of the word, "deter." Our presence in Iraq will never "deter" the enemy. If anything we provoke him. On the contray, we operate as a catalyst, a precipitating factor, drawing the enemy out and concentratng him for destructiom.
What might deter the enemy would the credible threat of resistless force, such as that reported in some circles to have been applied to Pakistan to secure their cooperation with respecst to Afghanistan.
Posted by: Lou Gots at May 31, 2007 12:22 PM'GOD FORBID WE LEAVE MILLIONS OF IRAQIS IN THE SORT OF TYRANNY WE LEFT THE NORKS"
The Norks are under tyranny, alright, but the US is not to blame. The Sorks are the legacy of the Americans. The North can thank China and the Soviets for their condition - and Kim himself, of course.
Posted by: obc at May 31, 2007 1:04 PMThe Turks may need to be deterred from meddling in Kurdistan, and Kurdistan will welcome the U.S. troop presence.
Posted by: kevin whited at May 31, 2007 1:14 PMOf course we're to blame. We stood by and did nothing. North Korea is Kitty Genovese and a profoundly shameful blot on our ledger.
Posted by: oj at May 31, 2007 4:10 PM