Winston Churchill managed a past occupation of Iraq...

[bhamlett]

Some of President Bush's closest advisers may say that this is only the end of the beginning for Iraq, but for the rest of us, it is the beginning of the end. We can now see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I have no doubt that Iraq Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki's remark yesterday that Iraq can go it alone was a direct response to the inevitable: we will be leaving his country soon because mainstream Republican support for the war has evaporated.

In the last week, key Republican Senators have withdrawn their support for the Iraq war, allowing a glimmer of hope that someday we will be able to leave this God, Jehovah, and Allah-forsaken country.

Bush loves to make grand analogies, comparing his Iraq war to Churchill's war against Germany. Few remember that twenty years before the war with Germany, Churchill managed a British occupation of Iraq. He summed up the British occupation in a letter to David Lloyd George on September 1, 1922, in the following manner... http://hamlettpost.com/2007/07/15/views-for-july-15-2007-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-the-iraq-war/">Click here to continue reading.

[Daveparts]

1. An Ungrateful Volcano

I am deeply concerned about Iraq. The task you have given me is becoming really impossible. Our forces are reduced now to very slender proportions. The Turkish menace has gotten worse; Feisal is playing the fool, if not the nave his incompetent Arab officials are distributing some of the provinces and failing to collect the revenue; we overpaid 200,000 on last years account which is almost certain Iraq will not be able to pay this year


thus entailing a Supplementary Estimate in regard to a matter never sanctioned by Parliament; a further deficit, in spite of large economies, is nearly certain this year on the civil expenses owing to the drop in revenue. I have had to maintain British troops at Mosul all through the year in consequence of the Angora quarrel: this has upset the programme of reliefs and will certainly lead to further expenditure beyond the provision I cannot at this moment withdraw these troops without practically inviting the Turks to come in. The small column which is operating in the Rania district inside our border against the Turkish raiders and Kurdish sympathizers is a source of constant anxiety to me.

I do not see what political strength there is to face a disaster of any kind, and certainly I cannot believe that in any circumstances any large reinforcements would be sent from here or from India. There is scarcely a single newspaper- Tory, Liberal or Labour- which is not consistently hostile to our remaining in this country. The enormous reductions which we have effected have brought no goodwill, any alternative government that might be formed here- labour, Die-hard or Wee Free- would gain popularity by ordering instant evacuation. Moreover in my own heart I do not see what we are getting out of it. Owing to the difficulties with America, no progress has been made in developing the oil. Altogether I am getting to the end of my resources.

I think we should now put definitely, not only to Feisal but to the Constituent Assembly, the position that unless they beg us to stay and stay on our own terms in regard to efficient control, we shall evacuate before the close of the financial year. I would put this issue in the most brutal way, and if they are not prepared to urge us to stay and co-operate in ever manner I would actually clear out. That at any rate would be a solution. Whether we should clear out of the country altogether or hold on to the Basra vilayet is a minor issue requiring a special study.

It is quite possible, however, that face to face with this ultimatum the King and still more the Constituent Assembly, will implore us to remain. If they do, shall we be not obliged to remain? If we remain, if we remain, shall we not be answerable for defending their frontier? How are we to do this if the Turk comes in? We have no force whatever that can resist any serious inroad. The War Office, of course, have played for safety throughout and are ready to say, "I told you so" at the first misfortune.

Surveying all the above, I think I must ask you for guidance at this stage as to what you wish and what you are prepared to do. The victories of the Turks will increase our difficulties throughout the Mohammedan world. At present we are paying eight millions a year for the privilege of living on an ungrateful volcano out of which we are in no circumstances to get anything worth having.

Winston S. Churchill to David Lloyd George September 1, 1922