Comments on: Is it over in Iraq? http://www.polimom.com/2006/08/21/is-it-over-in-iraq/ I used to be in the middle, but they keep moving the line! Fri, 21 Nov 2008 05:06:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: Polimom http://www.polimom.com/2006/08/21/is-it-over-in-iraq/#comment-29662 Tue, 22 Aug 2006 18:01:40 +0000 http://www.polimom.com/2006/08/21/is-it-over-in-iraq/#comment-29662 Smukke, I like that. But we'd have to be vewwy vewwy quiet... Smukke, I like that. But we’d have to be vewwy vewwy quiet…

]]> by: The Heretik » Blog Archive » Frustrating Times http://www.polimom.com/2006/08/21/is-it-over-in-iraq/#comment-29464 Tue, 22 Aug 2006 00:16:59 +0000 http://www.polimom.com/2006/08/21/is-it-over-in-iraq/#comment-29464 [...] Trying to find coherence here is a frustrating thing. When the media reports only what Bush said and not how it was said, the picture is incomplete. And inaccurate. [...] […] Trying to find coherence here is a frustrating thing. When the media reports only what Bush said and not how it was said, the picture is incomplete. And inaccurate. […]

]]> by: Smukke http://www.polimom.com/2006/08/21/is-it-over-in-iraq/#comment-29457 Mon, 21 Aug 2006 20:33:53 +0000 http://www.polimom.com/2006/08/21/is-it-over-in-iraq/#comment-29457 Best plan might be to dress up our military in Iranian uniforms... let the Iraqis turn their anger on Iran & take care of *that* mess for us while we slowly back away.. Best plan might be to dress up our military in Iranian uniforms… let the Iraqis turn their anger on Iran & take care of *that* mess for us while we slowly back away..

]]> by: Polimom http://www.polimom.com/2006/08/21/is-it-over-in-iraq/#comment-29456 Mon, 21 Aug 2006 19:43:56 +0000 http://www.polimom.com/2006/08/21/is-it-over-in-iraq/#comment-29456 TallDave -- Why... you're quite right! And since things are so wonderful, why... then... our troops should all be home any day now. Right? (editing to close the [snark] tag) Sorry, TD -- that was far stronger than I usually respond here.  What I should have said is that the civil disorder there is paralyzing the government;  that there are very few Iraqi troops trained to the point of independent function;  that the Sunni v Shi'ite rifts are opening doors to external players with grudges and ambition. All is not well, and as far as I can tell (from here, obviously, and not there in a trench or bunker or tank), it's not improving.  Nor for the citizens, and not for their government.   The only semi-bright spot I've seen is that American troops are far less of a target nowadays, as the focus on one another between the sects picks up speed.  We're superfluous. TallDave –

Why… you’re quite right! And since things are so wonderful, why… then… our troops should all be home any day now. Right?

(editing to close the [snark] tag)

Sorry, TD — that was far stronger than I usually respond here.  What I should have said is that the civil disorder there is paralyzing the government;  that there are very few Iraqi troops trained to the point of independent function;  that the Sunni v Shi’ite rifts are opening doors to external players with grudges and ambition.

All is not well, and as far as I can tell (from here, obviously, and not there in a trench or bunker or tank), it’s not improving.  Nor for the citizens, and not for their government.   The only semi-bright spot I’ve seen is that American troops are far less of a target nowadays, as the focus on one another between the sects picks up speed.  We’re superfluous.

]]> by: TallDave http://www.polimom.com/2006/08/21/is-it-over-in-iraq/#comment-29455 Mon, 21 Aug 2006 19:38:09 +0000 http://www.polimom.com/2006/08/21/is-it-over-in-iraq/#comment-29455 Sure, it's not like we succesfully removed Saddam and put him on trial, held elections with huge turnout, seated a gov't, established a constitution by referendum, held another election with even bigger turnout, trained 275,000 troops, and face no major strategic military threats to the current government. And it's not like Iraqis now enjoy more political freedom, according to the Index of Political Freedom, than any other countries in the region excepting Israel and Lebanon. Because if we'd accomplished all that, surely it would be hailed a success. Sure, it’s not like we succesfully removed Saddam and put him on trial, held elections with huge turnout, seated a gov’t, established a constitution by referendum, held another election with even bigger turnout, trained 275,000 troops, and face no major strategic military threats to the current government. And it’s not like Iraqis now enjoy more political freedom, according to the Index of Political Freedom, than any other countries in the region excepting Israel and Lebanon.

Because if we’d accomplished all that, surely it would be hailed a success.

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