Bryce in Seattle nails it:
...there is unrest because we wont leave, so we must fight to restore security, which causes more unrest because we are still there, so we must fight harder to restore security, which ...
I have been thinking about this in a very cynical way: It almost seems like Bushies WANT a long drawn out war.
Several articles, posts and news items discussing the Bush Administration's Failing to understand guerilla war point out the fact that Bush's Team (Rumsfeld & his team) has gone against 2,500 years worth of military strategy in their actions in Iraq.
What if Bush's neocon buddies don't plan on leaving Iraq EVER ? Wouldn't this "catch 22" pointed by Bryce be the perfect excuse ?
What do Bushies have to gain with a long drawn out war ?
* 10% of the world Oil on their hands
* A strategic base in the ME
* Defense industry contracts bonanza
* A strong military, clean of the reservists "weekender" soldiers
What do they lose by clearly saying that they are NEVER leaving Iraq
* Shock the moderates and liberals
* Shock our allies
* Cause other countries to band up against imperialist US
* Ignite the ME against US
* Not morally acceptable
What if they found a way to stay in Iraq AND look like "the good guys" ?
1. US wants to give Iraq's Oil and territory back to Iraqis... BUT
2. Can't leave before it's secure.... YET
3. To secure it try the reverse of most war winning strategies from the past 2,500 years HENCE
4. Iraq is never secure
Therefore US will have to stay there forever...
They can say "it's not our fault that we can't return control to Iraqis" and get to keep Iraq's oil and US bases there. And get plenty of pork for the defense industry...
More:
Larry Everest: Oil, Power and Empire
Failing to understand guerilla war
How Rummie ignored the Pentagon Wisdom
War strategy and the neocons ' excessive trust on gadgets