Fantasies Run Amok
Even the Washington Post acknowledges that the promises of both Democratic candidates regarding Iraq are unrealistic and badly damaging to American interests. The Post also admits that should either candidate do what they are saying they will, that the result would be a bloodbath in Iraq.
Barely acknowledging the reduction in violence, the Democratic candidates insist that U.S. troops are, as Ms. Clinton put it, "babysitting a civil war." In fact, the surge forestalled an incipient civil war, and U.S. commanders and diplomats in Iraq don't hesitate to say that if American forces withdrew now, sectarian conflict would probably explode in its full fury, causing bloodshed on a far greater scale than ever before and posing grave threats to U.S. security.
BOTH Mr. Obama and Ms. Clinton propose withdrawing U.S. troops at the most rapid pace the Pentagon says is possible — one brigade a month. In the 16 months or so it would take to remove those forces, they envision the near-miraculous accomplishment of every political goal the Bush administration has aimed at for five years, from the establishment of a stable government to agreement by Iraq's neighbors to support it. They suppose that the knowledge that American forces were leaving would inspire these accords. In fact, it more likely would cause all sides to discount U.S. influence and prepare to violently seize the space left by the departing Americans.
With equal implausibility, the Democratic candidates say they would leave limited U.S. forces behind to prevent al-Qaeda from establishing bases. They assume that an Iraqi government that had just been abandoned by the United States would consent to the continued presence of American forces on its territory. In all, Ms. Clinton and Mr. Obama speak as if they have no understanding of Iraqi leaders, whom they propose to treat as willing puppets.
The Post goes so far as to hope that both candidates are telling political lies. Personally, I'm bothered that both of them are so fond of embracing American defeat.
By sam, Thursday, 20 March , 2008 @ 1:13 pm
The candidates are just saying what their left-leaning political base wants to hear. Their political base has so much psycologically invested in a defeat and pull out that I don’t think they much care what happens in Iraq. My gut tells me that if either of them eventually win the Presidency that the reality of the situation will intrude on their fantasy world and their views will moderate, and the rapid pullout of Iraq will be quickly forgotten. At least that is what I hope.
By Neo, Thursday, 20 March , 2008 @ 2:20 pm
Exactly how will pulling out help America’a image aboard ?
By martian, Friday, 21 March , 2008 @ 12:05 pm
sam, which is it? Are they both liars as implied in your first sentence? Or are they totally unrealistic naifs that don’t understand the real world as your second to last sentence implies? Either way do we want either of them leading this country? I think not.