Get out now-in two part harmony

After a long hard think about the situation in Iraq I realize that I was being an idiot to believe even the smallest most minute part of what THEY were saying though what they have been saying helped lead me to this change of thought.

Over the last few years (thanks largely to DU'ers) I have developed an ability to watch, listen, and read the rhetoric and talking points like tea leaves. This has become extremely helpful.

Part one

"Freedom" "Democracy" "Liberty"
We have heard this over and over since it was the last thing they had to hang their hat on. The Iraqis need it and we seem to imply that we can bring it to them and....we did. They have freedom and liberty and they have a democracy even if they voted directly for the "other guys", which they did. Mission Accomplished. Praise Bush. Whatever. They have it-what they do with it is another issue.

We are simply imposing our will on them now. That's not freedom, to have an occupying military force and a puppet regime-isn't that what was supposedly so wrong with Lebanon? We need to leave and let them run their country for good bad or somewhere in between. According to every indicator available Americans don't think this operation is being run very well either.

I don't mean to be flippant about this in a joke about that last part or in the "Let them run it" wash-your-hands-of-the-situation way either. Hell even Rummy would agree that freedom comes with the ability to make mistakes. See there I go considering any of their BS as relevant again (they are tricky at that) I notice that all over the airwaves this weekend were all the guys who thought this war was such a great idea out in force asking for just a little more time just one more chance to make it all right and still claiming they were right all along.

Part two.

"It just doesn't matter"

One more big push. One more stand. One more chance to start from the middle and work our way out.

It doesn't matter how many people we send in there or how many times we try one more time nothing is going to changed the situation FOR US from what it is now. Nothing. We are going to end up right where we are anyway so why wait? Why lose more to get the same result?

We shouldn't. We should just go ahead and get out.

every prominent Democrat and almost all republicans are pushing this exact position ... some point out that it's not just "stay the course" ... that's fair because some think transitioning from an all military focus to the diplomat front will change things ... it won't ...

at least not while the US remains in occupation ... if you were sitting in Tehran, you'd be a fool not to realize the Americans' days in Iraq are numbered ... whether it's 6 months or a year or two or three, all you need to do is wait ... they're in no hurry while they watch US prestige being battered on a daily basis ... they're in no hurry as the US is so mired down in Iraq that they can't threaten Iran ... they're in no hurry while the US pours more blood and treasure into the great sink hole in Iraq ...

while we remain in occupation, WE HAVE NOTHING TO NEGOTIATE WITH ... if you're one of those "let's try diplomacy" people, you need to push FIRST for US withdrawal from Iraq ... then we can negotiate with "Iraq's neighbors" ...

i expect these boneheaded hawkish policies from the republicans; the great tragedy is that virtually every prominent Democrat, certainly all prominent likely 2008 candidates, support MORE OCCUPATION ... with no real opposition, bush is going to drag this out until he leaves office ... it is our job to stop him and stop him NOW!

great post, UP ... welcome aboard ... recommended!!