"No Way Out" (aka "Civil War for Dummies") Slate Magazine

[IdaBriggs]

This is a terribly grim thing to say, but there might be no solution to the problem of Iraq. There might be nothing we can do to build a path to a stable, secure, let alone democratic regime. And there's no way we can just pull out without plunging the country, the region, and possibly beyond into still deeper disaster.

Much as the Bush administration hoped otherwise, the fighting didn't stop—or so much as turn a corner—after sovereignty passed from the Coalition Provisional Authority to the new government of Iraq. Prime Minister Iyad Allawi made a fine speech on the occasion about dealing with the insurgency, especially the need to isolate the foreign jihadists from the homegrown rebels who simply don't like being occupied. But the distinction has turned out to be muddy, and it will remain so until Allawi demonstrates he deserves their loyalty—that is, until he proves that he's independent from his American benefactors and competent at restoring basic services.

Meanwhile, the U.S. military—the only force in Iraq remotely capable of keeping the country from falling apart—finds itself in a maddening situation where tactical victories yield strategic setbacks. <snip>

http://slate.msn.com/id/2105127/

[Jacobin]

1. The rest of the world knew this from the start

Too bad it taks us 18 months to figure it out.

[IdaBriggs]

2. Too true.

Of course, there were millions of us all over the world who protested, but what did we know? Oh, yeah -- that's right -- THE TRUTH!!! Argh! Ida

[bemildred]

3. Hey. It's easier to break shit then to glue it back together.

That does not mean that continuing to stomp around among the
broken shards is helpful.

[DeepModem Mom]

4. kick

[Eloriel]

5. Shi-yit

This is a terribly grim thing to say, but there might be no solution to the problem of Iraq. There might be nothing we can do to build a path to a stable, secure, let alone democratic regime. And there's no way we can just pull out without plunging the country, the region, and possibly beyond into still deeper disaster.

Seem to remember quite a few people saying that well BEFORE the war. In any case:

:kick:

[knight_of_the_star]

6. I guess they COULD read the writing on the wall

The writing just had to be in mile-high letters written in blood.

[depakid]

7. Sound familiar?

...."Meanwhile, the U.S. military—the only force in Iraq remotely capable of keeping the country from falling apart—finds itself in a maddening situation where tactical victories yield strategic setbacks."

[paulk]

8. the Iraq invasion is the worst foreign policy disaster in US history

and Bush and the psychopaths he has surrounded himself with still have at least five more months to make it worse.

Talk about strategery. Everything these people do leads to another fuck up.

I'm beginning to wonder if Bush wouldn't have his ass handed to him by a five year old in a game of "go fish".