I’m torn about what to do re Iraq. I agree with your assessment of conditions there & the Government, but I’m concerned about the consequences if we withdraw near-term. I think it would be a tremendous victory for Al Queda, and would show that the US is an unreliable ally, that it is incapable of sustained struggle against terrorism.
Certainly the present situation is no good either, and it is clear that Bush is clueless (to be charitable) about what to do there.
I’m dubious whether any of the present candidates would do better. The obvious best alternative is for the US to remain in Iraq with a clear political perspective, but I realize that is unlikely, so it is looking more and more to me like there are no good alternatives, & it may turn out to be another Vietnam-type defeat for the US — not because we are incapable militarily, but because of the huge 5th column here, and our inept political leadership; of course there is overlap between the 5th column and our lousy political leadership.

c f on April 28, 2008 at 5:20 pm

This is what happens when you worship democracy rather than G*d.

bouzouki on April 28, 2008 at 5:35 pm

The mission was accomplished the moment our boys dragged Saddam out of his hole. We never had any obligation to stay in Iraq beyond that. We have no business ‘nation-building’ or bringing democracy to the ME. What we should be doing is stand back and watch while Sunnies kill Shiites and vice versa, and give the Kurds some weapons so they can also kill and be killed as prescribed in the Koran.
We don’t need to make ourselves look ridiculous trying to establish ‘ democracy under sharia’- what an idiotic construct!
In Afghanistan we’re wasting our time, men money and materiel too. Whether we leave now, in 10 years or in 50, NOTHING will change or civilize the Musulmaniacs there. They live and die by the gun, always did and always will.
What we need to do is educate ourselves about the Islamic threat, close the mosques and madrassah’s and repatriate the Koranimals who want to turn our countries into Islamic s#*t holes.
There is nothing, NOTHING whatsoever that Islam can contribute to the betterment or progress of our society.
[SYM: AMEN. I WAS NEVER FOR THE DEMOCRACY STUFF OR FOR STAYING THERE. THE MINUTE WE FOUND SADDAM, WE SHOULD HAVE TURNED THE WHOLE COUNTRY OVER TO A SHAH-LIKE, PRO-U.S., BENEVOLENT DICTATOR, LIKE AHMED CHALABI, AND GOTTEN OUT OF DODGE. DS]

sheik yer'mami on April 28, 2008 at 6:21 pm

Leave Iraq to the barbarians. Let them honor kill each other into oblivion. We needed to get out years ago and concentrate our resources on Iran. Iran is enemy #1. The main source of the cancerous Muslim Jihad in the middle east.

FreethinkerNY on April 28, 2008 at 7:03 pm

“And this was different from Saddam, how?”
Under Saddam marriage between a Christian and a Muslim was legal. The father would have been executed.

Pat on April 28, 2008 at 7:12 pm

Regarding dishonor killings, here are a couple ideas:
1. Why don’t we start economically boycotting countries that continue to treat their women like this and the companies that do business with them? We could do for women what the boycott of South Africa did for blacks when they were living under apartheid.
2. Why don’t we write to our representatives and leaders and demand that they withhold some meaningful portion of our aid to these countries unless and until they materially, measurably, sustainably improve their human rights track records?
Ellen R. Sheeley, Author
“Reclaiming Honor in Jordan”

ERS on April 28, 2008 at 7:15 pm

Sigh, while I am hoping for democracy in iraq, if this is the kind of country we will get, it is not worth our time money, and the lives of our military.

mindy1 on April 28, 2008 at 9:45 pm

Religion of peace. Yeah ok.

samurai on April 29, 2008 at 12:11 am

No way would I want democracy in that demented corner of the world! To the muslimes, democracy means that they’re free to persecute and commit genocide against anyone who doesn’t follow their false prophet’s schizophrenic ravings. The sole reason we should have had for being in Iraq was to draw out al-Q and send them to Hell on a shutter…the benevolent dictator idea is more what these barbarians need. Until they can learn to not kill anything and everything that disagrees with them, they aren’t fit to govern themselves…and these “honor” killings are continuing proof of that fact.

Sharps Rifle on April 29, 2008 at 11:28 am

Democracy is mob rule. Sharia is a ruling mob.
This is just another tragic story in the world’s war against Submission. …but here’s the Silver Lining from CENTCOM News Alerts…
Micro-grants help Iraqi Business
Soccer Uniforms Purchased for School
Soldiers Help Water Management
CJTF Assist Dairy Farmers
Marine Payments Bring More Weapons Caches Out
etc etc etc
Point?
It’s all YOUR/MY fricken money!
Now, there’s fricken children getting wacked because they LOVE??
WTF?
Izlam Sux!
(shhh…i should of said “extremism sux.” sorry. please forgive me DOS.)

Nuggler on April 29, 2008 at 11:38 am

I doubt that Saddam had any laws that executed Christians for marrying Shia. For Sunnis, however, that may well have been different.
Fully agree with Sheikh Yermani above.

Infidel Pride on April 29, 2008 at 11:40 am

Hey Deb,
It was you right wing pigs that got us in the Bush quagmire in the first place. Now you idiots are having voter’s remorse. My son served several tours in Iraqnam. Son said it was not worth any price or a drop of any American blood. Now you war pigs want to do war with Iran. I can’t wait until November when your ilk will be voted out of the Whitehouse and the Repukes lose more seats in both houses of congress. Then we will get out of Bush’s money pit. Let Israel fight it’s own wars.

awolcowardbush on May 2, 2008 at 1:05 pm