Aug. 9, 2006
COMMENTARY: Exit Strategy for Iraq
By Tom Proebsting
Special to HNN
What should we do in Iraq? Think of it as a bad marriage-when there is no
hope of getting along or of reconciling, the man and woman usually opt for
divorce. The term ‘irreconcilable differences’, which is a common reason for
divorce, says it all. Why prolong the agony any longer? Split up and get it
over.
Our pre-emptive strike in Iraq was a bad mistake from the beginning – like
some marriages. Last Thursday, the American officer in charge of Iraq,
General John Abizaid, told a Senate Committee what many of us have
suspected: Iraq is in danger of sliding into a civil war. The level-headed
thinkers realize that it’s time to get out.
For those who do not believe in the military option of pre-emptive strikes,
the invasion of Iraq was looked on as a nightmare. The administration used
many hackneyed excuses to go into Iraq: regime change, the presence of
weapons of mass destruction, Saddam Hussein’s knowledge and/or collusion
with the perpetrators of 9/11, Saddam Hussein’s ties with al-Qaeda, Saddam
Hussein’s attempted assassination of former president George H. W. Bush,
Iraq’s breaking of 17 United Nations resolutions, and the spreading of
democracy, among other fabrications.
Most of these reasons have turned out to be plain bunk. The president sent
in our able-bodied troops, they overthrew Mr. Hussein’s dictatorship, and
then the Iraqi army melted into the general population. Afterwards, the
president and the secretary of defense stood by helplessly as Iraq’s
insurgency grew. The leaders in charge did not have a plan on what to do
next, so they did nothing. Today, the sectarian violence is threatening to
turn into a civil war.
Will increased might and power stop the violence? Not likely. The insurgents
and other terrorists are fed by the controlled mindset of a radicalized
religion and strong nationalism, with a sprinkling of socialism. The Middle
East region is rich with oil and natural gas, but is teaming with poverty
and corruption. The have-nots, through extremist tactics, see a way out of
their private Hell. Not even a nuclear explosion would stop the hate and
killing among the radicals.
Will splitting Iraq three ways stem the fighting? No. The Kurds have access
to oil in their region as do the Shiites. The Sunnis will be left out of the
natural resources game and because of this, will instigate a civil war which
could spread into a regional war.
Will sitting down with representatives from the different factions come to
an honorable conclusion -- even if the United Nations or NATO leaders are
present? Probably not. The three warring factions in Iraq have hated each
other since the death of Mohammed almost 1500 years ago. They have nothing
to talk about, nothing in common, and no use for one another.
Will our leaving halt the killing? Doubtful, but it will stop the senseless
murders and injuries of coalition force members and other innocents. If the
Iraqis cannot or will not work harder for peace, leave them alone and let
them sort it out. Vietnam went into a civil war and chaos after President
Nixon withdrew our troops. Communism collapsed years later and today Vietnam
is learning to trade with the Big Boys.
Will foreign invasion and subsequent alien occupation force democracy on
Iraq? Please. Don’t make me laugh. A few ‘free’ elections does not a
democracy make. Especially when there is very little, if any, infrastructure
present in Iraq. Democracy, which is desperately needed in the Middle East,
is not going to sprout and grow through pre-emptive strikes and violence. It
will happen by free choice and desire. Neither is present in Iraq.
Our option is clear. Get out now and cut our losses. America has created a
huge Muslim insurgency by invading Iraq, much like the Soviet Union created
an Islamic insurgency when they invaded Afghanistan during the 1970’s and
80’s. During this conflict, Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda were born. Imagine
what Frankenstein monsters America is spawning with their invasion of Iraq.
Imagine what terror this may produce in future years.
If we get out, the insurgency against foreign occupiers will stop and is not
likely to leave the borders of the little nation. Rather, Iraq will busy
itself with a civil war. If this occurs, oil may subsequently rise to over
$100 a barrel. However this scenario is a lot more pleasant than our men and
women in uniform being killed or maimed.
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Tom Proebsting is a writer and blogger in Missouri. Tom Proebsting, 823 N.
Ault St. Moberly, MO 65270
e-mail: truthprobe777@yahoo.com
Proebsting invites comments. Reply to: http://truthprobe.blogspot.com