KRUGMAN: "So they lied to us; what else is new?"

[nostamj]

<snip>
So they lied to us; what else is new? But there's more at stake here than the administration's credibility. The official story line portrayed a virtuous circle of nation-building, one that could eventually lead to a democratic Iraq, allied with the U.S. In fact, we seem to be faced with a vicious circle, in which a deteriorating security situation undermines reconstruction, and the lack of material progress adds to popular discontent. Can this situation be saved?

Even among harsh critics of the administration's Iraq policy, the usual view is that we have to finish the job. You've heard the arguments: We broke it; we bought it. We can't cut and run. We have to stay the course.

I understand the appeal of those arguments. But I'm worried about the arithmetic.

All the information I've been able to get my hands on indicates that the security situation in Iraq is really, really bad. It's not a good sign when, a year into an occupation, the occupying army sends for more tanks. Western civilians have retreated to armed enclaves. U.S. forces are strong enough to defend those enclaves, and probably strong enough to keep essential supplies flowing. But we don't have remotely enough troops to turn the vicious circle around. The Iraqi forces that were supposed to fill the security gap collapsed — or turned against us — at the first sign of trouble.

And all of the proposals one hears for resolving this ugly situation seem to be either impractical or far behind the curve.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/30/opinion/30KRUG.html

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. Krugman sounds as hopeless as I feel.

Reassuring to know that I am in such erudite company.

[nostamj]

2. that's what struck me too

reminds me of a bit of fake Yiddish from the late playwrite Charles Ludlum: Gott Farblonjet

which means, roughly: so lost even God can't find it

the bushies' policy seems just as hopelessly LOST

[kentuck]

3. You can have him....stop talking now.

Recommended by Saddam Hussein.

[BeFree]

4. Is this what Kerry is saying?

First, the reality is that we are - for the time being - stuck in Iraq.

Why we are there and how we got there, will be discussed for years and years.

Now that we are there, and while examining of how the occupation is being administered, we must examine recent history in making a determination of the failure or success of how the occupation is proceeding.

One must conclude that the invasion seems to have been successful, but the occupation is a miserable failure. It is a miserable failure because of the miserable liars who are now administering the miserable occupation.

End the occupation. Bring our troops home. Now.

[nostamj]

5. * promises new wetlands...

he doesn't explain they will consist of blood soaked sand.

[nostamj]

6. krugman kick

and a tap for toles