In the context of the mosque bombing and subsequent violence, this seems like an impulsive kneejerk response. The aging Buckley has declining tolerance for ambiguity, and apparently little patience for letting events take their full course. Sad to see.
Letting events take their full course? What does that mean?
Like any strategic thinker, he wouldn't be writing his piece without thinking of the strategic consequences that follow from recent events.
Let's be frank here: In 2003, the CPA did some really stupid things (abolish the military, de-Baathify without an effective PR campaign, underestimated the Anbar province, etc.). In 2004, we had to deal with a Shiite rebellion, courtesty of Sadr. In 2005, we had elections, but had a feckless transitional Iraqi government that barely struck the insurgency. And now, in 2006, we're dealing with Shia-Sunni strife--the possible outlines of a true civil war. Where do we go from here?
Our government's strategy of reaching out to Sunnis is now taking a huge hit. The Sunnis aren't even talking on the political level, much less on the neighborhood level. And now, bringing them in the US-backed Iraqi military is going to be an impossible feat.