[melancholy]

Good afternoon, sir. Do you mean as the Chinese did in Vietnam and the Russians did in Afghanistan?

I mean some of what Saddam did to control the violent factions for decades. if you care to read my URL in which I explained some of the Iraqi history and violence, you may not find a need to be sarcastic.

I answered the Afghanistan question in a previous post. Are you gonna ask me about the Congo Brazzaville next? :-)

Instead of drive-by-posting, maybe you should try to guide us with a novel solution of your own.

Have a great evening, sir.

[brazzaville]

Good afternoon.
"Are you gonna ask me about the Congo Brazzaville next? :-)"

I wasn't planning on it, since it has nothing to do with the subject at hand. No, I'm responding to your belief that the answer to Iraq's problems is an iron thumb.

I don't really need to read your URL to know the history of the players in the middle east or to understand that we can't afford to lose, or that we can't leave yet without losing. My novel solution is for us to take Syria out of the picture and bring about regime change in Iran by any means in either place.

The take over by the DemocRATs is going to make that much harder to do. I've got to say that I'm not optimistic about things working out. W may have the only answer when he says "stay the course", but we're not likely to do so now.

I haven't seen you around here much, melancholy. Maybe it's just that I have overlooked your posts. Whatever, I'll post as I choose but thanks for the wish for a great evening.

Michael Frazier