Is there a viable military solution in Iraq?
817372
Watch or listen to CSPAN now. There is a hearing on that. The General just said We need more troops, another said, We need an exit strategy. \nIn one month the Baker meet will be over and then and only then will we will know anything. \nMy opinion is that there should be 3, one Sunni, one Shiite and one Kurd. Each with their own accepted borders, and all sharing equally in any oil revenues from all 3 Countries or States. \nThe Shia and Sunni are never going to get along, and the Kurds just add an extra element of dispute. So give them all 3 equally shares of land, in relation to their original lands and with some acknowledgment as to Census Status, i.e. 3million Shia, 3million acre, 2 million Sunnis 2 million acres, 1million Kurds, 1 million acre. Or something like that. Seems fair, they all get Oil Revenues equally, and no one is or can take anothers land.
196670
How about sending them to Iraq
934649
Thats quite an interesting article, thank you for putting it up, and i agree with ecerything the generals say, but do you not think there is larger issues here? The ineffectiveness of the iraqi govt, caused by the clash of ethnic groups but also by the duality of relying on US troops while also trying to distance themselves from US policies, and other issues like this? I respect what the generals say but are they not purely looking at this from a military and practical perspective? Killing every terrorist and insurgent will not finish this war, because its impossible...hmm i cant see an alternative way of getting out of this situation but i also refuse to believe that its as simple a solution as issuing killing orders...tho that would be a step forward i admit
821248
Could we defeat them? Yes we could. Do we currently have the balls to jump in a furball with them and stick it out to the win? No, we do not. Witness Iraq and all the mewling and whining even after it was carefully explained that it would be a long, expensive process.\n\nShould we? No. All we need do is show that we have the guts and determination to finish what we started in Iraq, they will back off.
255658
ALL HELL WILL BREAK LOOSE SOON... iraq is on the verge of all out civil war: shiite muslims fighting sunnis muslims within the country. situation there would be best assessed by US army intel operating within iraq.\n\nI feel it would be irresponsible, even catastrophic if US troops were to be pulled out now.
776751
I'm afraid some people only understand military might.\nhttp://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061110/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_061110174646\n\nBush knows it and tried to handle terrorists in the right way. Hard to say how the Left will respond, but we're stuck with them.
836763
Their solution is to cut and run.  IE loose the war...
296096
I bet u r not the only one asking this question.... As to whether democracy can work in Iraq, what we need to realise is that democracy can't be forced upon ppl. It is a system by the ppl, for the ppl. So, maybe it will. But to really see whether it does or doesn't, we'll have to wait till Iraq is rid of the foreign occupents...
919194
You can definitely count out France and Germany. Russia\nChina, Pakistan or India, Syria, Turkey, Eygpt and the\nArab nations could be of some help if America would\nask them, after all there are still the oil for the taking. The\nother alternative is to force-feed every Iraqi with pork so\nthat they cannot go to heaven where 20 maidens await\nthem. This way, they have no reason to kill each other and\nthere will be peace on the land again. Another alternative\nis to supply the Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds with all the\nlatest weapons and ammo and they will do the rest for\nAmerica.
878775
That's political face saving at best trying to buy time to come up with an excuse to leave. The truth is there is no saving the situation in Iraq. This is now a tribal and religious war and will have to burn itself out we are just in the way. The govt that was elected in Iraq is so convoluted that no one has real power just the militias and they have infiltrated everything to the highest levels. Thus the Iraq army has been totally nullified along with the police forces. There is no getting it right that ship has long ago sailed. The generals hopes and dreams will not change that. It would be best to get out or move our troops to the oil facilities only and keep the crude safe from terrorist and insurgents. Any extra troops can be sent to Afghanistan that can still be saved. Once the most powerful tribes win control of Iraq we can then do like all the rest before us supply them with weapons and expertise and thus prop up another new Saddam.
618
Never. Iraq was not a succesful example for US. They'll put more economical pressure on Iran rather than military action.
749371
Erudite....Your question is based on a false premise. Have a little faith.\n\nThis whole area has been chaotic for centuries - we have only be there for a few years and our accomplishments have been pretty impressive. The vast majority of key players who ascribe to this radical faction of hatred have been captured or killed and a free election has been held. The Iraqi militia continues to train and grow and participate in many of the operations to rid this country of these Islamic factions that continue their tactics of terror and murder.\nHopefully, a democratic country in this region will help stabilize and secure this powder keg so the people can live in peace with a government that answers to them - instead of the other way around. \n\nIf only the media would be genuine in their "fair and balanced" reporting, perhaps our optimism would be a little improved.
736201
No. He'll find some reason or another to stay. (Can't forget that oil). Again, Bush is in quite a bit of trouble right now. Remember, The US took a large number of young Iraqis to "train" for security purposes. Many of them went to Jordan. The streets are not secure and it will take a while for them to become secure. I don't believe this "westernized" method of training is doing any good in Iraq. In that respect, I believe Maliki has other plans to provide security.  Even if it means "using" al Sadr.and Iran. And Syria.
761513
Dividing between the Sunni and Shia/Kurd will not work.  The majority of oil wealth is in the Shia and Kurd areas and the Sunni would not let themselves be cut out.  This has already been proposed (Federalist states for each of the three) and been rejected by the Sunni.\n\nI agree in general with your assessment of the situation and see no really workable solution since I do not believe that the Islamic religious leaders will ever allow any form of democracy to work.  I think we will eventually see another Islamic Theocracy in Iraq.
1029399
its definitely time but there's a problem...Iraq is in a state of chaos that is worse now than ever...militant groups have gained supporters and are fighting stronger than ever...the u.s. went in there and tore Iraq apart...we currently are doing more damage than good, as most of the funds that are suppose to be going toward rebuilding the towns and home of citizens are being used to supply our troops with food and more ammunition...the government is established and is capable of running itself, and Iraq now has its own police force and armed forces....we should pull out and let the country begin to run itself...
518011
Zero.\n\nThe democratically elected Iraqi government has requested that the U.S. stay to finish its job of making them strong enough to govern and defend their fledgling Republic.\n\nWe are there at the Iraqi's request.
697581
We will be there until the Government is stable and their military is effective.  The best way to succeed in this is to increase troop presence, but good luck with that...\n\nIf we had sent the proper ammount of troops in the first place and the administration listened to the Generals on the ground, this would have been nearly over...