“The USA is the only country that has the means and will to PROTECT AND DEFEND the world’s MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCE. Therefore, as Commander in Chief, I will stop at nothing to ensure that these PRECIOUS WORLD RESOURCES are protected for the benefit of citizens the world over who need the blessings of oil and capitalism, etc., etc.”

Once the PSAs are forced down the collective Iraqi throat, Bush will declare “Troops home by Christmas!” and the PMCs will start waving dollars at soldiers just about to leave Iraq. The PMCs will station themselves around the oil fields and facilities. Then the recruitment via TV will start: “Work in Iraq! Excitement! Money! No laws! Free-fire zones! Make your own videos! Torture, rape, and murder! Wackenhut doesn’t care.”

“Be sure to ask about our Repatriation Program, in partnership with Homeland Security–go straight from shooting in Mosul to shooting in Memphis!”

It will take time. During the negotiations, some level of violence will continue. But this is the price we must pay. We must not resort to “winning dirty” regardless of the cost. Given the rate of progress in trying to get the parties to the table, this effort will take years, perhaps decades. I dont know how many will die in the interim, but we must not “win dirty”.

Actually things aren’t that black and white. Cultures are affected by their histories, religions, economic policies, and form of government. Muslims will be fighting forever. Their religions “differences” are insurmountable due to their mindsets. An eye for an eye….forever. Same with the Jews and the Palestinians. Their histories are too intertwined and laced with bad blood, death, and retribution.

We thought we could help create a democratic government that would serve as a catalyst for the greater region, encouraging pro-western democracies. Woops! Didn’t quite work out that way. The Iraquis don’t have a strong enough national identity. They are too fractionalized and view themselves more as different tribes than Iraquis. All they know is oppression and domination. They cannot concieve of living side by side with a Sunni/Shia. They can only think of dominating the other faction.

Yes, some Iraquis are willing to die for their country, but far too few. Until they decide they want to live in a modern and civil manner (and yes, that means accepting a neighbor who believes something different than you religiously), they will always be fighting. Unfortunately many innocent’s are caught up in this ignorance….themselves too ignorant to know what the solution is.

The fact is that the Middle East has bred a type of person that needs a strong handed dictator. They crave it. As dysfunctional as these societes are, they would be more so without dictators. We must accept these differences and focus on limiting how much this can hurt us.

If areas allow terrosists to train, blow it up. Period. Do not let some madman get nukes (think Iran). Protect oil interests, as the world economy runs on it…………which won’t change anytime soon. That is real politik. That is what works……………not what we wish could work.

We are there. Who cares if we should have ever gone. What do we do now? Pull out and leave a vacuum for al quaeda and anti American forces supported by Iran and Syria? I think not.

Just remember. Without oil revenues the middle eastern countries would be even poorer. They profit immensely from being the winners of the geological lottery. Their problem is that they have bad governments that are corrupt, inneficient, lack capitaistic tendencies, lack civil liberties, lack a fair court system, lack business law that protects business and intellectual propeties, etc. …………on and on.

These countries only need look at their own leaders to find the cause of their failure. But it sure is easier and politically expedient to blame teh “great satan”.

The 80% “democracy” solution in Iraq. Wipe out or supress the Sunnis. What an insane and evil proposition.

Wasn’t this idea bantered about by Cheney?

How is this kind of thinking any better than Saddam’s rule (except the supressed and murdered were Shiite and Kurds)?

The neoconjob talking heads are clearly loosing their cool.

Cool. Good luck with the bar (way ahead of time, I know). I’m finishing my first semester today. I love it, and although I need a break, I can’t wait for fall. :)

I’m not with the not-so-small matter of finding Shia “friendly to the US.” Translate that into “puppet government.” That ain’t gonna happen unless we’re there forever.

So what’ll it be, permanent occupation or let them settle their own differences? I say, let them settle their own differences.

Kondrake fails to include the Saudi Arabian and other Sunni nations in his conclusion, but if the US was up to some diplomacy, maybe a peace could be brokered with SA, Iranian, Syrian, Jordanian, (regional) cooperation, with US pulling out as part of the deal.

My sympathies.. I just got done with that for the summer. Graduate in november..then take the bar next feb or july and I can start using the “judimicial systim” to get some justice around here…

Comment by valiant venus

Why don’t you answer this question. You have no friends here. Nobody but you thinks you are intelligent. If we wanted to know what Rush had to say we would listen. Here’s a hint. He’s a lying idiot and so are you.

Maybe you haven’t noticed because you’re too busy quoting your icons, but every body here likes Zooey and despises you. Is there no where you could go where people respect you? If not then maybe you should take a hint.

Truth hurts vagrant venom. You are a twisted, hateful, white trash freak. But you’re delusional sense of self importance is nothing but psychotic.
Get help or go away.

That ‘one Member of Congress’? — Joe Biden. Joe supports the break-up of Iraq plan.

…and send a letter to the editor…

…kondracke is evil…

…and EVIL must be confronted on every level…

…every time it rears its disgusting visage…