Quote:
Originally Posted by Detroitdad
As I see it the only choices are too dramatically increase the boots on the ground, so you can do aggressive interdiction and simultaneous institution building, but I think this only workds if you are prepared to spend a lot of money, a lot more blood and a lot more years. Or you need to have a phased withdrawal. The status quo will almost certainly result only in loss of blood and treasure, without hope of payoff.
It seems to me that there is no political will to take the long term view (which I think is the best and most advantageous policy for US interests in the long term). Therefore I think that the only real choice is how soon we begin withdrawal.
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Excellent post. Long term will is critical to any sort of stability in Iraq and the Middle East.
Taking the middle ground on this position makes just as much sense as taking the middle ground on the border. Either secure our border or open it. Don't waste time, money and lives with a half secure border. Worst of both worlds.
As an aside, the real answer is for us to get away from oil dependence so when the inevitable wars begin in the Middle East after our premature withdrawal (no jokes please) we don't get screwed.
