What an old Iraqi thinks about Iraq

[AUman43 5]

DAVID BROOKS

U.S. Must Face reality if it hopes to win in Iraq

Policymakers are again considering fundamental changes in our Iraq policy, but as they do I hope they read Elie Kedourie’s essay, “The Kingdom of Iraq: A Retrospect.”

Kedourie, a Baghdad born Jew, published the essay in 1970. It’s a history of the regime the British helped establish more than 80 years ago, but it captures an idea that is truer now more than ever before: Disorder is endemic to Iraq. Today’s crisis is not three years old. It’s worse now, but the crisis is perpetual. This is a bomb of a nation. “Brief as it is, the record of the kingdom of Iraq is full of bloodshed, treason and rapine,” Kedourie wrote.

In 1927, a British Officer asked a tribal leader: “You now have a government, a constitution, a parliament, ministers and officials---what more could you want? ‘The tribal leader replied, “Yes, but they speak with a foreign accent.”

Kedourie quoted a British report from 1936, which noted that the Iraqi government would never be a machine based on law that treated citizens impartially, but would always be based on tribal favoritism and personal relationships. “Iraq, Kedourie said, faced two alternatives: “Either the country would be plunged into chaos or its population should become universally the clients and dependents of an omnipotent but capricious and unstable government. “There is, he wrote, no third option.”

Today, Iraq is in much worse shape. The most perceptive reports describe it so much a civil war as a complete social disintegration. This latest descent was initiated by American blunders, but is exacerbated by the same old Iraqi demons: greed, blood lust and a mind-boggling unwillingness to compromise for the common good, even in the face of self-immolation.

The core problem is the same one Kedourie identified decades ago. Iraq is teetering on the edge of futility. Perhaps a competent occupation could have preserved it as a coherent entity, but now the Iraqi national identity is looking like a suicidal self destruction. Partitioning the country would be traumatic, so after the election it probably makes sense to make one last effort to hold the place together. Fire Donald Rumsfield to signal a break with the past. (BUSH HAS ALREADY NIXED THIS) Alter troop rotations so 30,000 more troops are policing Baghdad. But if this doesn’t restore order, if Iraqi ministries remain dysfunctional and the national institutions remain sectarian institutions in disguise, then surely it will be time to accede to reality. It will be to effectively end Iraq, with a remaining fig leaf central government or not. It will be time to radically diffuse authority down to the only communities that are viable---the clan, tribe or sect.

A muscular U.S. military presence will be more necessary then ever, to deter neighboring powers and contain bloodshed. And the goals will remain the same: to nurture civilized democratic societies that reject extremism and terror.

But the boundaries may have to change. The war was an attempt to lift a unified Iraq out of its awful history, but history has proved stubborn. It’s time to adjust the plans to reality. (WILL BUSH BE WILLING TO DO THIS, OR IS HE TOO STUBBORN?)

Birmingham News, Other Opinions, Friday, November 03, 2006 (Selected excerpts)

I support our soldiers in this war but I have serious questions about Iraq's desire for a democracy and thier willingness to put aside sectarian hatred and competition for power to accomplish that. This article certainly points that out as well as the distinct possibility that this won't happen. If so, then Bush is going to have to admit a mistake and get our men out. Unfortunately he has never shown a predisposition to admit mistakes much less back up. I pity this country if that is to remain the case. War Damn Eagle!

[channonc 466]

It becomes clearer everyday that there was no plan for the Iraq War after Saddam was forced out. The situation becomes worse everyday, and leaving the country in this complete mess can't be an option. Clearly, the Bush Administration has no desire to try to right the course in Iraq. Hopefully, we will have some fresh faces in Washington that can try to make sense of the mess Bush & Co. have made.

[CCTAU 3,350]

It becomes clearer everyday that there was no plan for the Iraq War after Saddam was forced out. The situation becomes worse everyday, and leaving the country in this complete mess can't be an option. Clearly, the Bush Administration has no desire to try to right the course in Iraq. Hopefully, we will have some fresh faces in Washington that can try to make sense of the mess Bush & Co. have made.

Yeah the same fresh faces that have been coming up with the winning plans all along. What makes you think that any of the wonderful dims have a clue either? Because you are one of them? I would love to see someone with a logical and feasible plan. But ten bucks says it won't be a dim. Probably not a repub either.

Change for the sake of change is not reason enough. We need a new generation of strong leaders, either side. All in the middle.