Senator Joe Biden Editorial WP: A Plan to Hold Iraq Together

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/23/AR2006082301419.html

Four months ago, in an opinion piece with Les Gelb, president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations, I laid out a detailed plan to keep Iraq together, protect America's interests and bring our troops home. Many experts here and in Iraq embraced our ideas. Since then, circumstances in Iraq have made the plan even more on target -- and urgent -- than when we first proposed it.

<snip>

This plan is consistent with Iraq's constitution, which already provides for the country's 18 provinces to join together in regions, with their own security forces and control over most day-to-day issues. This plan is the only idea on the table for dealing with the militias, which are likely to retreat to their respective regions instead of engaging in acts of violence. This plan is consistent with a strong central government that has clearly defined responsibilities. Indeed, it provides an agenda for that government, whose mere existence will not end sectarian violence. This plan is not partition -- in fact, it may be the only way to prevent violent partition and preserve a unified Iraq.

To be sure, this plan presents real challenges, especially with regard to large cities with mixed populations. We would maintain Baghdad as a federal city, belonging to no one region. And we would require international peacekeepers for other mixed cities to support local security forces and further protect minorities. The example of Bosnia is illustrative, if not totally analogous. Ten years ago, Bosnia was being torn apart by ethnic cleansing. The United States stepped in decisively with the Dayton Accords to keep the country whole by, paradoxically, dividing it into ethnic federations. We even allowed Muslims, Croats and Serbs to retain separate armies. With the help of U.S. troops and others, Bosnians have lived a decade in peace. Now they are strengthening their central government and disbanding their separate armies.

At best, the course we're on has no end in sight. At worst, it leads to a terrible civil war and possibly a regional war. This plan offers a way to bring our troops home, protect our security interests and preserve Iraq as a unified country. Those who reject this plan out of hand must answer one simple question: What is your alternative?

[Dhalgren]

1. Hell! It's a plan, anyway. At this point reasonable people should

be willing to try almost anything! The plan has some flaws and over-simplifies aspects of the problem (also, it fails to recognize and admit that the civil war is here, now, and growing), but it, at least is a PLAN! Somebody put foreword a better one. Anybody? Anything? No?

[leesa]

7. It's not OUR country to play with! We have no right to determine their

destiny.

[zulchzulu]

2. I'm sure the Sunnis would let the Shiites have all the oil...

The Turks wouldn't attack the Kurds either with their lion's share of oil either...

:sarcasm:

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

3. The only things that are going to happen are...

1. Things will get so bad we will finally leave.

2. The people intent on killing each other, over there, will do so until they run out of each other and innocents to kill.

3. Then, and maybe then, saner heads will prevail. And perhaps there will be enough left to build something from the rubble.

Remember: This situation is the fruit of many years of simmering animosities, animosities that were understood by Hussein and kept tamped down by his government, albeit in a brutal and totalitarian manner. But he knew and understood more about that region than the neo-con naifs will ever know in their smugness and self-satisfaction.

[wisteria]

4. How about Kerry/Feingold?

Biden's plan seems more likely to send everyone to their respective corners only to have them all come out fighting at another time-and fighting each other. As long as oil is part of the mix than I see continued fighting over it. IMO, they need to stay united as one- just as they voted on in January and we should hold them to their votes.
I just don't know why Biden can't check his ego for once and work with Senator Kerry and Senator Feingold to come up with a powerhouse plan for success.

[endarkenment]

5. How about we get the fuck out of Iraq?

And stop fucking with these people. We have no legitimate interests there, only illegitimate ones.

[Totally Committed]

10. I'm with you...

We need to leave, and as you so colorfully put it: Stop fucking with these people.

TC

[leesa]

6. It ain't your country Biden...quit playing Mr Paternalist

Just get the frickin troops out and let Iraq handle their OWN politics.

[IndianaGreen]

8. Biden thinks he is running the British Colonial Office

Biden is a classic case of someone suffering from "white man's burden."

[Javaman]

9. Biden, the Americana Pax appologist...

Biden lost me when he voted for the bankruptcy bill. Mr. visa can go scratch. He's just glossing over more empire building.

1) Iraq is not the U.S.

2) It's not us to decide how they choose to live

3) it's not us who determines their future

4) Occupation is not a form of democracy

5) Killing people will not spread peace.

As long as we are there, no matter how many times till tuesday we try to polish this turd of a war, we will never "win" in Iraq.