I am for the Iraq troop increase, HOWEVER there are conditions.
First 20,000 additional troops are a START, but the actual number needs to be much HIGHER!
Second, the surge must be maintained for at least 2 years. If not it is a waste of lives, treasury and political credibility. The only way to do this is to also re-instate the draft.
Three, this is only a PART of a bigger plan of a comprehensive exchange of power and eventual US troop withdrawal.
Bush needs to include a political plan to stop the civil war and bring the surrounding Nations into the mix to end the violence.
The borders between Syria and Iran need to be closed. Other Middle east and Muslim nations need to be involved in the political peace plan and troop deployment in peace keeping missions within Iraq.
If Bush does not also include these solutions, then the only alternative is to bring the troops home and stop this insanity.
Today, the Iraq solution It is Not 'staying Bush's Flawed Course' to failure.
The Iraq war solution would have nothing to do with Democracy, civil liberties or human rights. I will explain WHY that is NOW the case.
Bush's 'stay the course' premise was wrong from the moment Bush decided to ignore the protests that no WMD's existed in Iraq and he decided to 'stay the course' and ignore proven intelligence and instead believed flawed un-vetted intelligence.
This is the course Bush has 'stayed the course' on. His hubris that he knew better than the professional battle hardened Generals telling him more troops were needed.
Bush 'stayed the course' and invaded even though the world was telling Bush No WMD's were present and more inspection was necessary.
Bush continued to 'stay the course' and ridiculed the news media for reporting on escalating violence and that civil war was occurring.
Bush's idea of 'stay the course' is to ignore anyone who disagrees with him or offers a plan that is different than his.
Because of this policy of 'stay the course' The Victory the Military won in Iraq has been lost by the incompetence and hubris of this Bush Administration to a point that it has now passed the tipping point of no return.
The solution is this. Two examples that are NOT something Americans will approve.
In Algeria the French rolled up terrorists cells by using BRUTAL INHUMAN TORTURE. In Conjunction with this a Dictatorship Government must be installed to use absolute power to brutally suppress any and all civil and military disturbances.
There was an outside chance that if Bush had given clemency to the Bathist, had used the disarmed military and police force with Middle Eastern Countries overseeing them to maintain the peace so rioting did not occur, had the sufficient troops on the ground to preserve the victory this discussion would not be happening.
However Bush decided to 'stay his flawed course' to failure.
Hubris "pride goes before a fall"
The second example is to allow Iraq to be split into three states.
The road to peace in Iraq is equal representation for all in the Government.
Iraq will be partitioned into three separate but equal states.
Turk, Shia, Sunni with Baghdad as the Capital.
This is occurring anyway because of the violence. Iraqis are retreating back home to tribal borders or exodus from Iraq entirely.
The three Iraq states will elect one third of the Iraq Congress representatives, each.
The Presidency will be elected by the Congress, not the people.
To get to this point security must first be brought to Iraq.
This will be done by re-instating the draft in the US. It is a simple necessity.
Increase troop strength immediately by 20,000.
Redeploy troops to the Borders of Iran and Syria to SECURE the borders after first making it clear this is not a move prior to invasion.
Encourage the neighboring Middle East countries it is in THEIR best interests for a stable self governing country.
Get troops from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, where ever but they should als include the OPEC countries for OBVIOUS reasons. An unstable Iraq threatens the world oil supply.
Then use a mix group to pacify and secure Iraq.
The US Marines go in first to pacify the area, then a mixed group of 1/3 Iraqis, 1/3 OPEC, 1/3 US-coalition maintain security and peace. As the Iraqis step up, the OPEC, US-Coalition steps down.
Repeat
Repeat
Repeat.
This process should take two years to complete.
This is RESPONSIBLE DISENGAGEMENT!
The President is STILL the Commander and Chief, NOT Congress or the Democrats. Iraq is BUSH'S problem to solve, it will not be the Democrats until the 2008 Presidential election.
Once again after ridiculing his opponents, Bush finally admits he was again WRONG. We did need more troops and we do need to increase the size of the Military.
This President doesn't get ANYTHING Correct!
The Silence from the Bush apologists and the 21% approval numbers are a testament to the fact that Bush's actions are no longer defendable. The man should never have been elected. I do not know what you Bush apologists will tell your kids and grand kids when they asked why you supported the man that destroyed the republican party and began the lost of preeminence of America.
The ONLY way to increase troop strength is the DRAFT! Bush started a war that will put America and the world in greater risk if it is NOT concluded in a stable manner. Anyone who says otherwise is a fool. Anyone who says leave and let the Iraqis figure it out for themselves is not looking at the big picture or reality. Iraq had NOTHING to do originally with the war on terror and 9/11. It has become NOW a large part of the war on terror.
The penalty to America for electing Bush to office in 2004 is that America now OWNS Iraq and it's outcome and we will pay for this with American blood and treasury. This is a very painful lesson to learn for those who elect a president who is unqualified and uses dogma and pragmatic idealism rather than reality and common sense to govern a nation and inter react with the world.
America NEEDS to understand that we are about to pay a huge price for bush's incompetence. It is unavoidable and it is a lesson that will forever be remembered.
It is a lesson that will ultimately destroy the republican party and forever stain Bush's failed Presidency. If Bush is not impeached he will forever be known for his incompetence, hubris and the blood spilled in Iraq in his name and on his willful orders.
Bush and the Republican party are caught in a catch 22 scenario.
The war in Iraq cannot be concluded unsuccessfully. Success is America no longer involved and Iraq is a stable non terrorist nation. To do this without destroying the military, bush needs the draft. Troop levels are too low for a sustained war, and for some reason Bush supporters are not rushing in to fill the need for the additional troops.
Either action will not help the Republicans, but to NOT do this will lead to America being seen by the world as a paper tiger if America leaves and Iraq falls into chaos.
Whatever occurs both Bush and the republican party are the losers.
America and her loyal troops as well as the rest of the world are the BIG LOSERS because long after Bush is gone, we will still be affected negatively by the 'worst president in history' actions!
I would like to also add two other points...
Point One.
I love the way Bush is now trying to make the failure in Iraq the Iraqis fault. What an obvious way to save face. Tell the Iraqis who are under manned, under trained and out armed it is up to them to clear the enemy out.
Forget the fact that the Iraqis did not invite this war on themselves. It was Bush's Idea to invade them. Forget the fact that it wasn't the Iraqis who asked for the 'Shock and Awe' bombing campaign that killed hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and destroyed their infrastructure, that was Bush's idea. Forget the fact that Iraqis never asked for their security forces to be dismantled and for criminals and terrorists to have unabated access to their country, homes and woman and children. That again was Bush's idea. Forget about the fact that Iraqis could not participate in the actual reconstruction of their country in the way THEY wanted it. That again was decided by bush and the US contractors employed to 'rebuild' Iraq.
I doubt very much that Iraqis wanted the sectarian violence, the killing and torture both by the US and their enemies, the lack of security and law, the lack of public services, the inability to even have electricity, schools, hospitals, social services and FUEL! I doubt that the Iraqis wanted foreign born insurgents to turn their country into a war zone to battle the Americans. It is no wonder many in Iraq wish for the 'good old days of Saddam' he may have been an evil man, but at least there was no crime in the streets and the 'trains ran on time'.
Now in this FUBAR of post invasion Iraq, bush is making a half hearted effort of salvaging his war of unprovoked aggression. He forcing a people who never ASKED for his help, that it is time they showed some appreciation for the Hell he has turned their country into. He is demanding that the Iraqis powerless puppet government stand up and fight against a stronger more organized enemy AND WIN, or else the US will leave. The fix is in and Bush THINKS he has found a way to cut and run with honor and dignity. Who can possibly blame the US for leaving when the Iraqis themselves are not willing to fight for their own freedom.
Iraqis never asked for the 'freedom', but why let the facts and the truth get in the way of Bush Pragmatic Idealism.
The truth is Bush needs to go all in with a comprehensive plan such as the one I have continually posted, or get the troops out if he doesn't have the courage to back the troops in a manner they can win!
All IN means a draft and American in FORCE, 500,000 troops making right what Bush has made wrong. We have no other choice or options. Anything else is failure! That is the only option that stay the course has left the US. A DEAD END!
Point Two
How many of you know that we are taking troops out of key areas in Afghanistan to help supply the 'new surge' in Iraq?
Now you got to ask yourself, why are we taking troops out of Afghanistan when all recent reports tell of a resurgence of the Taliban and Al qaida in Afghanistan. There are also reports that come spring Al qaida and the Taliban will launch a 'Tet' type of attack.
The reason bush is pulling troops out of Afghanistan is because America does not have enough BATTLE HARDENED TROOPS capable of fighting the door to door war in Baghdad that the 'surge' is about.
The fact is America no longer has the troops needed to fight the Bush foreign policy wars. The only way to do this is correctly is with more troops gotten through the draft.
However the Republicans can not do this without suffering an even greater purge in the next election. They would lose the white House and there would become a POWERLESS Minority in Congress. The republicans would lose so many seats that Democrats would have majorities to pass any and all legislation even if the Republicans voted along party lines.
The only way Bush and the republicans can reinstate the draft is because of a threat that would necessitate a draft. Iran attacking our troops in Iraq would be just such an emergency.
Unfortunately I believe Bush and the republicans would be willing to sacrifice these troops in Iraq to save themselves and their political aspirations. Without more troops Iraq is lost. The only way to get more troops is the draft. The Republicans and bush do not have the courage to state this. So once again it is about misdirection, half truths, lies of omission and poorly thought out 'axis of evil, you are either with us or against us and if you are against us you are our enemy' rhetoric.