Posted on 10/19/2006 9:19:55 AM PDT by drfredc
A workable winning exit strategy.
Basically, stop pussy footing around and win the war in Bagdad by an Iraq led divide and conquer strategy. Get the Iraq's government to take their gloves off and take the lead in this conflict... It's a winnable strategy, but only one that the Iraq leadership can successfully execute.
* Step 1 -- Iraq needs to get Sadam's trial over and done ASAP -- execute him... OK, perhaps a side issue... * Step 2 -- Iraq needs to stop pussy footing around with the insurgency (whoever it is). o Start by dividing Bagdad into various defendable 'sections' with 'serious defendable no go boundaries' and defendable portals between boundaries that allow reasonably controlled travel and commerce. o Section boundaries would be wide defendable strips of several blocks of demolished structures, that would be maintained as impassable or very defendable territory that wouldn't permit easy passage in and out except at boundaries. oLand owners would be compensated with other lands, Iraq oil stock or other suitable compensation. o Clean up each section as quickly as possible in a logical winnable pattern that builds upon itself. o Once clean, keep clean by controlling movement in and out of area until the problems abate for a significant amount of time. o Expand strategy to other cities and locales where stability issues comes up. o The US would (at best) be in a support role in this endeavor, perhaps doing the heavy hitting necessary to create the boundaries under guidance of Iraqi forces. o When everything settles down, consider turnning the boundaries into the people's park land or other public resources. Consider the retaining ability to quickly put them back into service if the need arises... o When it's all said and done, the Coalition (US) forces can exit to whatever support roles the Iraq government and people deem appropriate.
I am more in favor of my own idea.
1. Cut a swath 20 miles north of baghdad that runs east to west across the entire country. Move all Coalition forces there.
2. Arm the Kurds to the teeth. Attack both Iran and Syria and take a significant chunk of land in each country. Give it to the Kurds, go to the UN and declare the country of Kurdistan. Then fortify it. Put Kurdistan in NATO.
3. Build forward bases in the new Kurdistan. Set up ABM batteries. Declare that any attack on Kurdistan will be an attack on NATO and the US.
Let the Sunnis and Shiites fight it out in the south. Iran can support one group the Saudis the other.
That seems to be the key phrase, something we may never see happen. I'm thinking that there will come a day where we will need to step aside and let the Iraqis figure this out for themselves. First they need to whip up some good ole nationalism to prevent Iran from walking in and taking over. Then we wait and see if a friend or foe rises from the ashes.
There is no exit strategy because it not in the interest of the US to exit Iraq at this time.
One of the countries most likely to attack Kurdistan, Turkey, is in NATO.
"One of the countries most likely to attack Kurdistan, Turkey, is in NATO."
This is where diplomacy works. With taking Iran and Syrian territory, The Kurds agree to stay out of Turkey and Turkey agrees to recognize the new state. And we give Turkey a few more F16's to kep them happy.
Many Kurds live in Turkey and they have been oppressed.
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