IRAQ: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED?

According to several of the Neo-cons who
urged us to attack Iraq, one of Mr. B.'s major
accomplishments was "winning in Iraq." Bill
Kristol recently made this claim in the NYT.
Gen. Petraeus however, refuses to second
that opinion. He says the situation remains
precarious, and the relative calm fragile. He
has also refused to lower our troop strength
there. And will probably advise our new presi-
dent to do likewise.

The proof offered by the Neos that we have won
is the supposed "stunning success" of the Surge.
But that too is way overblown! The purpose of
the Surge was to secure space for political ac-
commodation. The space was secured, but the
accommodation wasn't. What we have here is
a tactical success and a strategic failure. Which
is precisely what Obama predicted when he
opposed the Surge two years ago! Zero has
been settled on the major issues dividing that
ruined country. We still have 140,000 troops
there. We can't leave without a major unravel-
ing following our exit, as Mr. Obama will soon
be informed by his military chiefs.

Iraq has been through all this before. The Brits
set up a make-shift "democracy" there after
WW I. Then the Brits got out, and all hell broke
loose. That's how they got Saddam. Our re-
tiring ambasador there, Ryan Crocker, has ser-
ved in the M. E. all of his professional life. He
knows the history, the language, the culture,
the people. He says policy makers need to un-
derstand that this is a long game. A lasting
change for the better is not going to happen by
pushing a button: "Not this year, not in five
years, maybe not in ten." The Surge only
proved that our presence there in force is neces-
sary to maintain some semblance of order.
What happens when we leave is anyone's guess.
History suggests it will likely be similar to when
the British left. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED?
Don't hold your breath! We went over there
and set a fire, and then refused to send enough
firemen to put it out. After five years of terri-
ble destruction we finally sent enough additional
firemen to contain the blaze (not put it out.) For
that we are now high-fiving and celebrating! Go
figure.

jgoodwin004@centurytel.net