With Troop Rise, Iraqi Detainees Soar in Number

[yesman065]

We haven't "murdered" hundreds of thousands. I agree our energy needs to be focused on getting their Gov't up and running, but that will not happen within the current environment that exists. Whether we stay long enough to do it at all is another question.

[minnmirman]

I dont know how much you know about Iraq's own army and police force right now, but leaving and pumping money into them would just cause a fight between the two. They definitely hate each other like you wouldnt believe. The corruption present in the current day government and connected agencies in Iraq would prevent the country from becoming functional and independent were we to leave now.

Its widely accepted that we were wrong to ever invade the country (personal politics aside), but pulling out now would leave the region in a deeper quagmire than it's in now.

[tw]

Originally Posted by minnmirman

Its widely accepted that we were wrong to ever invade the country (personal politics aside), but pulling out now would leave the region in a deeper quagmire than it's in now.

Read how the Iraq Study Group defined a withdrawal. They studied this problem long ago and arrived at what was and still is our only viable option. Your assumption is that withdrawal is a cut and run out this month. Even that is not possible because America installed itself with intent to stay. Even a withdrawal means over a year. Only alternative is to stay for over a decade. You advocate we stay and keep making enemies for 10 years? That was the Vietnam mentality.

Painfully obvious problem with your reasoning: conclusion violates fundamental military principles AND therefore means a long, protracted, and painful defeat. Welcome to the same reasoning that justified Vietnam. Even American massacres then resulted. Also happened because war was fought by violating fundamental military principles. Yes there are only lose-lose options because a strategic objective is not being achieved.

Fail to take a bigger perspective - worry about little things like the resulting civil war - then end up killing even more and still losing.

Time for worrying about those Iraqi lives were many years ago. I feel your frustration because I saw that problem years ago when something still could be done. Show me a strategic objective that can be achieved? A hint - review how a withdrawal is conducted per ISG. Extremist rhetoric from both extremes says a withdrawal is a complete evacuation. It is not and cannot be accomplished. Show me a strategic objective that can be achieved?