NYT editorial: A Timetable Isn’t an Exit Strategy

[DeepModem Mom]

Editorial
A Timetable Isn’t an Exit Strategy
Published: August 6, 2006

As America’s military experience in Iraq grows ever more nightmarish, it is becoming clear that President Bush’s strategy comes down to this: Keep holding to a failing course for the next 29 months and leave it to the next administration to clean up the mess.

That abdication of responsibility cannot be allowed to continue at the expense of American lives, military readiness and international influence. With the Republican majority in Congress moving in perpetual lock step behind the White House, the job of pressing the issue has been dumped in the laps of the Democrats. Unfortunately, they have their own version of reality avoidance. It involves pretending that the nightmare can be ended by adopting a timetable for a phased withdrawal of American troops.

Mr. Bush’s cheerleading encourages the illusion that it is just a matter of time and American support before Iraq evolves into a stable democracy. The Democratic timetable spins a different fantasy: that if the Iraqis are told that American troops will be leaving in stages, at specific dates, their government will rise to the occasion and create its own security forces to maintain order....

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The only responsible way out of Iraq involves all the things President Bush refused to consider on the way in. That means enlisting help from some of the same Arab neighbors and European allies whose opinions and suggestions were scornfully ignored before the invasion. Getting their assistance would be a humbling experience. Americans may feel the war is going badly, but they have not been prepared to acknowledge failure....

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A serious plan for disengagement from Iraq is not well tailored to the campaign trail. Real withdrawal will be messy and unpleasant. Even under the best of circumstances, it could well end in disaster. But the country cannot afford another election cycle of bipartisan evasions.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/06/opinion/06sun1.html?_r=1&oref=login

[Totally Committed]

1. "The Rapture" isn't an exit strategy, either...

Let's get the ApocalyseEnablers away from decisions of War & Peace, or we will have them handing us a self-fulfilling prophecy on a tray!

TC

[welshTerrier2]

2. and an exit strategy is not an exit ...

it's time to get out ... NOW!

the time for talking and planning and strategizing and pretending we can bring about positive change while we occupy Iraq is OVER AND DONE ...

just as a timetable is not an exit strategy, an exit strategy is not an exit ...

[Totally Committed]

3. Beautifully said!

Elegant in its truth and simplicity as well.

TC

[leesa]

4. That's right. It's just a cowardly politician's way of avoiding a decision

Get them out of there.