BREAKING THE CULTURE OF DEPENDENCY:

For U.S., The Goal Is Now 'Iraqi Solutions': Approach Acknowledges Benchmarks Aren't Met (Thomas E. Ricks and Karen DeYoung, 1/10/08, Washington Post)

In the year since President Bush announced he was changing course in Iraq with a troop "surge" and a new strategy, U.S. military and diplomatic officials have begun their own quiet policy shift. After countless unsuccessful efforts to push Iraqis toward various political, economic and security goals, they have decided to let the Iraqis figure some things out themselves.

From Gen. David H. Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker to Army privates and aid workers, officials are expressing their willingness to stand back and help Iraqis develop their own answers. "We try to come up with Iraqi solutions for Iraqi problems," said Stephen Fakan, the leader of a provincial reconstruction team with U.S. troops in Fallujah.

In many cases -- particularly on the political front -- Iraqi solutions bear little resemblance to the ambitious goals for 2007 that Bush laid out in his speech to the nation last Jan. 10.

Self-governance...what a concept....

Posted by Orrin Judd at January 10, 2008 6:33 AM