thoughtful summary of competing forces in Iraq: Strategic Drift in Iraq

[rodeodance]

http://www.americanprogressaction.org/issues/2007/strategic_drift.html


Strategic Drift in Iraq

By John Podesta, Lawrence J. Korb, Brian Katulis

October 31, 2007

Executive Summary

With little more than a year left in the Bush presidency, the United States risks slipping into what can best be described as strategic drift in Iraq. The United States cannot continue to muddle through in Iraq hoping that things will somehow get better. Drifting along has severe consequences for America’s security.

Strategic drift moves us further away from the goal of a unified and stable Iraq. President Bush claims that the current strategy is having some success, but toward what end? The president argued that the surge would give the political breathing space needed to achieve a unified, peaceful Iraq. But this success, which Bush claims comes from a reduction of casualties in certain areas of Iraq, has been accompanied by massive sectarian cleansing. The surge has not achieved progress; it has impeded progress toward the stated strategic objective of national reconciliation.

The other argument offered for an enduring and open-ended commitment of U.S. troops to Iraq is based on the possible negative consequences of withdrawing U.S. troops. The case rests on the false premise that any other option would fuel terrorism, regional conflict, and humanitarian disaster. But strategic drift forestalls the actual hard work needed to avoid these potential dangers and actually does little or nothing to prevent them. It promotes fear over reason and inertia over strategic clarity, keeping America paralyzed on a dangerous course.
Strategic drift weakens our security. Strategic drift poses the greatest threat to American national security. An open-ended commitment of U.S. troops in Iraq is weakening America’s security in four key ways:

[Xipe Totec]

1. When did we drift into a unified and stable Iraq as a goal?

I thought we were there to eliminate the threat of weapons of mass destruction.

Did I miss a turn at Albuquerque?

[DCKit]

2. I just read here today that, under international law....

We aren't allowed to leave Iraq until after we've restabilized the country.

Scary.