Replies

I appreciate your sentiments and thoughts on the over all issue. but unfortunatly it is not that simple to carry out what you would like to see.
What I do hope is enough has changed within the IG at this point to indicate they no longer will sit back and play games only favoring the Shia end, and allowing all kinds of graft, and mismanagment to occure.
Many blam GWB and said he had failed. Well it is complicated. Only a few months back had the IG (the really first real Iraqi government elected by Iraqi) finally started to show it is finally ready to accept the things that must be done.
I believe we shall see many things change as this new plan takes effect. And any way one looks at it, the Iraqi really need a few more years from a military view point to become fully independent. I often harp about their need to finally activate a nation wide military HQ/Service/Support system, which has been lacking. They need many large computerized and effecient depots to supply their new army and police with both the personal gear, firearms, vehicles, airsupport etc., to take over all the major operations.
Things are slowly starting to take effect. They need more time.
And unless we abandon the concept of uniting the country, their political processes must have time to mature.
One cannot force things on them that are still foreign and or barely understood.
This new coalition of political parties now forming under Allawi's leadership is one example that holds out hope Iraq can actually morph into a more westernized democratic nation.
It really is a quite bold step. And despite many bad reports out how defecient their army and police under a given brigade, regiment or division. The fact remains some of their units have matured and are really taking the fight to their enemies along side our troops as well as in some fully independent operations.
They need time to change for the better.

When one makes a road, builds a dam, sails the ocean.. in each case the wise Commander battles with the earth or the sea as little as possible..

In each case one works with the terrain to lay a road. Looks for the best rock upon which to build a dam. Sails with the prevailing currents and wind when ever possible.

The wind and current in Iraq are moving people into separate camps, The best rock upon which to build a dam to stop the flow of violence is a series of Demilitarized zones between the antagonists. The best way to build a road to peace is accepting the terrain and landscape as it is and working with it..

Fight both the enemy and the lay of the land (How things really are) and one can never achieve victory.

Redirect the enemies efforts and energy to the wrong place for them (make them miss their target). Work with the land (How things are).

Do the above while acting swiftly and with God's blessing victory is assured.

W