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Originally Posted by dc_dux
Absolutely. I agree we have a moral obligation that requires something other than pulling out unilaterally, just not more of the same failed tactics and strategies. IMO, we should be working diplomatically much more aggressively and with much greater urgency to bring the regional powers (Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and even Iran/Syria) in to create a "stabilizing force" under the auspices of the Arab League to replace US forces.
If we had skilled diplomats and not ideologues conducting our diplomacy, (ie, someone like Colin Powell who was fired for not being an ideologue), perhaps we could convince them that it is in the interest of every country in the region to remove the US face of occupation...and we can begin to draw down in the coming months as they take our place, with limited US forces to continue training the Iraqis.
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I agree with you. We should be making
much more effort in engaging regional resources in Iraq. And I'd go so far as to say
especially Iran and Syria. If we can come away from this fiasco with Iraq being at least on the road to being a better, freer, more democratic nation than it was when we entered it AND engage Iran and Syria in the making of it? Pish, that would be just the kind of unbelievably ironic scenario that just might make the initial nightmare...not worth it...can't think of the word...politically salvagable. Although that's not it, either. Maybe you get my drift. I understand the push for and the efficacy of democratizing the middle east. And it's not all about the finite resource of OIL. It's also about security, not just for us, but for our whole little world, too. And if you are concerned about human rights, you don't have to look far to see that it is about human rights, too. It's about opportunity. It's about the global marketplace and free and open access to it. Not only the rich benefit from these things.
Ahhhh, but I tend to get all teary-eyed and optimistic about these things. But I want it to turn out as well as possible for the people it really matters to. No matter whose legacy will benefit from it.
Which brings up another thing. GWB & friends only have two years left in the White House. After that, this mess is going to be left up to somebody else to fix. If it's going to be the Democrats, well, that's a pretty daunting challenge for us to face (I am still a registered Democrat, after all
). And I will be pretty dismayed if we spend the following four years pointing our fingers at GW's back...just like the conservatives did with Clinton like...yesterday, for crying out loud.
I want answers, goddammit! Do the Democrats have them?