Did I say that?
Posted on 06/15/2006 8:13:40 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
News Release
June 8, 2006
Media Contact: (202) 789-5200
Cato Institute Experts Comment on the Death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and the Future of Iraq
WASHINGTON – Cato Institute foreign policy experts are available to discuss the latest events in Iraq. Contact the media relations department to arrange an interview: (202) 789-5200, pr@cato.org.
Christopher Preble, Cato Institute, director of foreign policy studies:
"The death of Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is welcomed by all civilized people. Zarqawi terrorized the Iraqi population, and engaged in some of the most brutal acts of the insurgency, including beheadings and the slaughter of countless innocents.
"It is now time to look to the future. In his statement announcing Zarqawi's killing, President Bush reminded Americans, and the world, that the terrorism and sectarian violence in Iraq will continue. Deep tribal, religious, and sectarian fissures have been opened in Iraq. Zarqawi worked earnestly to foment civil war among Iraqi factions, but he was hardly alone. Others who would favor civil war over reconciliation must be marginalized within Iraqi society.
"But the only leverage that the U.S. government has over the factions within Iraq would be the prospect of our leaving. With the interior and defense ministries now filled, and with Zarqawi dead, the administration must tell the Iraqi government—and the Iraqi people—that U.S. forces are leaving. This would have a clarifying effect on the government of Iraq, forcing its members to look at each other, and decide whether they will compromise and move forward, or whether they would rather obstruct progress and let Zarqawi's successors terrorize their countrymen.
"With a unified Iraqi government empowered to take control of security their country, the Bush administration must urgently refocus its efforts away from the internal politics in Iraq, and back on the al Qaeda members who are planning attacks against the United States. Afghanistan has suffered mightily over the past several months, with a dramatic uptick in violence. The intelligence assets and special forces who were assigned to hunt for Zarqawi and others in Iraq should be refocused on the pursuit of Osama bin Laden."
Ted Galen Carpenter, Cato Institute, vice president for foreign policy and defense studies:
"Americans should not assume that Zarqawi's death will make a major difference in Iraq's overall security environment. The episode is simply the latest milestone that is not really a milestone in that unhappy country.
"We should be especially skeptical of those who proclaim every favorable development as a crucial turning point in the Iraq conflict. We've heard it all before. Zarqawi's death may well weaken the capabilities of the foreign fighters in Iraq, but the significance of that faction has been in decline for months. Indeed, the primary component of the violence in Iraq is no longer an insurgency directed against U.S. occupation forces and security personnel of the embryonic Iraqi government. Instead, the dominant factor is now tit-for-tat sectarian violence between Sunnis and Shiites. The elimination of Zarqawi will have little impact on that problem.
"Americans need to ask why they should want their military personnel to try to play the role of referee in such an environment. Zarqawi's death should remove the last excuse for 'staying the course' in Iraq. We've overthrown Saddam Hussein, enabled the Iraqi people to create a new constitution, presided over the election of a new government, and now killed the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq. Enough is enough. At some point, the Iraqi people need to stand on their own feet and decide whether they will cooperate in governing the country or whether they will wage an increasingly bloody sectarian war. If they choose the latter, America does not have a dog in that fight.
"Let's celebrate the end of Zarqawi. And then let's use the occasion to announce a firm schedule for the withdrawal of all American troops."
PING!
Cato's take on Zarweewee's death...
"Let's celebrate the end of Zarqawi. And then let's use the occasion to announce a firm schedule for the withdrawal of all American troops."
Here's where you lose me. If Zarkman's death is of little consequence to you, why the call to bring troops home early?
Although I'm not really familiar with CATO and their orientation, this sounds like just so much more liberal whining and poor interpretations and opinions.
They're Libertarians, and politically isolationists.
They're on our side in economic issues but would prefer to simply ignore the Iraqi situation.
I used to be a Libertarian and economically I still am. I've drifted towards Republicanism because I think it's important to be engaged in the world and fight the good fight for freedom where necessary.
D
I think it's clear that the Iraqi's are doing exactly as what is stated here. We're now taking the initiative...and chasing the enemy now that they have their backs to the wall.
I think you'll see troop withdrawals very quickly...
PS-Of course however, the MSM says the Zarqawi was not important...
Sure, there needs to be a certain pressure on Iraq itself to stand on its feet. But at the same time, the supporting US forces need to stay in strength right now.
We should not withdraw. Cato sounds just like the Liberal capitulationists. Maybe if Liberatrians weren't so busy smoking pot and god knows what else, they'd be able to think clearly on the subject.
I think we should from now on always have a physical presence in the middle east. To leave completely would be stupid.
On the other hand...I'm wondering if we can achieve just as much with fewer troops on the ground and our navy. The Iraqis have to do this themselves.
I can't see us getting in the middle of their reconciliation process.
Ted Galen Carpenter, Cato Institute, vice president for foreign policy and defense studies:
"Americans should not assume that Zarqawi's death will make a major difference in Iraq's overall security environment.
IS Ted Galen Carpenter, Cato Institute, vice president for foreign policy and defense studies A MEMBER OF THE MSM?
CATO is more libertarian and takes the position that the U.S. should not be the world's policeman. But clearly that might be correct policy regarding haiti, but not in iraq imho. The thought of terrorists causing problems in the OIL RICH middle east is a pretty serious scenario.
He made a few good points... but overall sounds like an idiot
The article said -- "Let's celebrate the end of Zarqawi. And then let's use the occasion to announce a firm schedule for the withdrawal of all American troops."
Disagree with that. And I see that the U.S. Government does too. They are planning on having bases there for a long time, although there will definitely be troop reductions, eventually.
We are shifting from the old Cold War Alignments to what I would call the new "End Times Biblical Alignments". Wait and watch, Armageddon is coming. The time is now...
Regards,
Star Traveler
You said -- "The thought of terrorists causing problems in the OIL RICH middle east is a pretty serious scenario."
And such huge world oil reserves that have yet to be even developed.
Regards,
Star Traveler
Good point. And this:
"The intelligence assets and special forces who were assigned to hunt for Zarqawi and others in Iraq should be refocused on the pursuit of Osama bin Laden."
It's already being done. The US and Brits are moving some big heat over to Afghanistan to get Omar and Bin Laden - which is yet another reason the Zarqawi hit WAS important. If Cato's gonna criticize, they should at least read FR to keep up with the news. LOL.
From the Herald article:
The soldiers facing relocation from Iraq are from Task Force 121, operating out of a base at Balad and Task Force Black, based in Baghdad.
They are the teams responsible for locating Abu Musab al Zarqawi, the al Qaeda terrorist leader killed last week in a US airstrike near Baquba.
The clandestine units were also central in capturing Saddam Hussein, cornering and killing his sons Uday and Qusay, and rescuing the British hostage Norman Kember.
So I take it you don't smoke pot. So what is your excuse for not being able to think clearly?
NO.
They agree.
It's just that they don't necessarily think that a long term US military engagement is the way to address it.
There can be disagreement among thoughtful people about that.
Did I say that?
Then why does he echo THE EXACT WORDS of the MSM?
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