At first and then
Still so sickened about so much that is transpiring in the wake of the Indian Ocean. Meanwhile, of course, there is this:
Baghdad Governor Slain, 5 U.S. Troops Die
By NICK WADHAMSAssociated Press Writer Published January 4, 2005, 10:05 PM CST BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The governor of the Baghdad region, known for cooperating closely with American troops, was assassinated along with six bodyguards as he drove to work Tuesday in yet another bloody day of insurgent attacks that exposed grave security flaws in Iraq with elections less than a month away. Other assaults Tuesday killed five American troops as well as eight Iraqi commandos and two civilians, bringing the death toll in the last three days to more than 70. Despite the violence, which U.S. troops and Iraqi security forces have been helpless to prevent, American and Iraqi leaders insist the Jan. 30 vote would go forward. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ats-ap_top11jan04,1,5017784.story?coll=chi-news-hed
Consequently, and again, although cognizant of sounding redundant, it is obvious voices as mine are unheard. Thus, I offer this:
It's Time to Get Out of Iraq
By David M. Edelstein and Ronald R. Krebs The Chicago Tribune
Monday 03 January 2005
Since March 2003, an almost unquestioned consensus has dominated the debate on Iraq: Toppling Saddam Hussein without building a new, stable Iraq would harm the welfare of Iraqis and undermine America's foreign policy interests.
The time has come, however, to embrace an unpleasant alternative: the withdrawal of U.S. and coalition forces from Iraq as soon as possible after the Jan. 30 elections. Concrete withdrawal plans would send a clear signal to Iraqis that the United States is not a colonial power, and withdrawal would stem the occupation's growing hemorrhage of lives and dollars. Most important, it would allow the United States to rededicate its assets to the fight against the global terrorist network rather than continuing to expend them on the struggle against insurgents in Iraq.
Critics will protest that such a policy would leave behind a civil war in Iraq, create a safe haven for terrorists and damage U.S. credibility. But sectarian violence is already prevalent in Iraq, and Sunni insurgents are working hard to fan the flames of sectarianism. It may be only a matter of time until the U.S. is enmeshed in an Iraqi civil war, and there is little reason to think that persisting with the status quo will improve the situation.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_05/010405F.shtml
Baghdad Governor Slain, 5 U.S. Troops Die
By NICK WADHAMSAssociated Press Writer Published January 4, 2005, 10:05 PM CST BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The governor of the Baghdad region, known for cooperating closely with American troops, was assassinated along with six bodyguards as he drove to work Tuesday in yet another bloody day of insurgent attacks that exposed grave security flaws in Iraq with elections less than a month away. Other assaults Tuesday killed five American troops as well as eight Iraqi commandos and two civilians, bringing the death toll in the last three days to more than 70. Despite the violence, which U.S. troops and Iraqi security forces have been helpless to prevent, American and Iraqi leaders insist the Jan. 30 vote would go forward. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ats-ap_top11jan04,1,5017784.story?coll=chi-news-hed
Consequently, and again, although cognizant of sounding redundant, it is obvious voices as mine are unheard. Thus, I offer this:
It's Time to Get Out of Iraq
By David M. Edelstein and Ronald R. Krebs The Chicago Tribune
Monday 03 January 2005
Since March 2003, an almost unquestioned consensus has dominated the debate on Iraq: Toppling Saddam Hussein without building a new, stable Iraq would harm the welfare of Iraqis and undermine America's foreign policy interests.
The time has come, however, to embrace an unpleasant alternative: the withdrawal of U.S. and coalition forces from Iraq as soon as possible after the Jan. 30 elections. Concrete withdrawal plans would send a clear signal to Iraqis that the United States is not a colonial power, and withdrawal would stem the occupation's growing hemorrhage of lives and dollars. Most important, it would allow the United States to rededicate its assets to the fight against the global terrorist network rather than continuing to expend them on the struggle against insurgents in Iraq.
Critics will protest that such a policy would leave behind a civil war in Iraq, create a safe haven for terrorists and damage U.S. credibility. But sectarian violence is already prevalent in Iraq, and Sunni insurgents are working hard to fan the flames of sectarianism. It may be only a matter of time until the U.S. is enmeshed in an Iraqi civil war, and there is little reason to think that persisting with the status quo will improve the situation.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_05/010405F.shtml
posted by Paul V. Regelbrugge at 9:16 PM
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