Posted on 12/07/2006 12:10:32 AM PST by goldstategop
Isn’t the main problem with the Iraq Study Group that it’s just majorly lame? Almost anybody could crank out this kind of generalized boilerplate (“We were told by a general/a translator/my taxi driver/my Ukrainian hooker…”), and most of us could do it without a budget of gazillions of dollars and an Annie Leibovitz photo session.
Of course, Syria “should” do this and Iran “should” do that and, if they were Sandra Day O’Connor, I’m sure they would. But they’re not. And the only specific strategic proposal is a linkage between Iraq and a “renewed and sustained commitment” to a “comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace” – which concedes the same ludicrous rationale that the Saudi King Abdullah and all the rest of them make: that one tiny ten-mile sliver of Jews is the reason why millions of Muslims from the Straits of Gibraltar to the Emirates are mired in dictatorships, failed economies and jihadist fever. For the Baker group to endorse this clapped out pan-Arabism is disgusting. An “Arab-Israeli peace”? What does that mean? What exactly is Israel doing to Iraq, or Tunisia, or Qatar, or any other Arabs except those in the “Palestinian territories”? To frame it in those terms is to adopt the pathologies of the enemy. Shame on Baker, Hamilton and all the rest.
As for the insight on page 94 that so impressed Rich, yes, it’s true that the DIA and other analytical agencies don’t have a lot of strength in depth. But why is that? It’s certainly not because the US taxpayer isn’t showering them with dollars. It’s to do with a bureaucratic torpor that has proved almost totally resistant to any attempts to reform it since 9/11. And, while we may well “engage” with Syria and Iran to no effect, and US troops may well put their left foot in and take their right foot out, the one thing you can guarantee won’t be shaken all about is the torpid bureaucracy – of which this stillborn report is yet one more example
So I've heard........
So long as that threat doesn't drive the shiites more into the arms of Syria, and the sunnis into the arms of Al Qaeda, since they will no longer trust us to help them get along.
The problem with most threats is that they end up strengthening our enemies, because the people we are threatening are facing life and death struggles and they are on the edge of a knife.
96% of the Iraqi people want to live peacefully -- this isn't a civil war, its a small number of people with strong support from evil neighbors causing strife and dissent.
The SAME thing could be happening here, and in fact IS happening here -- look at the illegal immigrant gangs terrorizing OUR neighborhoods.
That would really piss off al-Bakr, though.
And why isn't the media covering this FACT?
All I see is reams of solicitous ass-kissing when they get him on camera. Fox had him on earlier and it was nauseating.
Why is al-Bakr given a pass on his role as Saudi defender?
My goodness Mark, tell us how you really feel!
That might go down, very deservedly, in the Rant Hall of Fame!
"every major American city..." etc.
Well, the American people decided on 11/07/06 that they wanted to fight the WOT on American soil. So be it.
Metaphorically, if my children don't think my grandchildren are in danger, I'm too old and tired to say, write and care more.
But I will thank God for and continue to support those of us who continue to fight effectively.
Two things. First that the US is always wrong, and second that we don't have the cajones to finish the job.
Well, that's certainly how our enemies, Leftists, and the MSM (but, I repeat myself) are reading it.
We are going to have their wish, I fear.
And just how, pray tell, does Iraq's solution have to do with the rape of the Golan Heights?????
Anarchy manifests itself in many ways, and is always inimical to any form of personal freedom.
I think the parallel to the Iraqi experience would be a city with street gangs, and an administration owned by, or a part of, the street gangs. Add to that a group of people who are backing the administration and have given them an open checkbook, protection, and unlimited time, and you have Iraq.
I watched that speech Tallibani gave at the IFP the other day, and it was clear that the same level of arrogance and self-interest we saw in the Saddam administration is present in the current one. Maybe it's just an Arab thing, or maybe its related to the fact that, unlike our usual situation, the people have no power to throw out the crooks over there, but it's an attitude that might be partially enlightened by awareness that we're not going to subsidize it.
I understand the difficulties they face, but I don't mind having them looking over their shoulders when they're tempted to take advantage of them, or wimp-out on their obligation to solve them.
"What the hell were they thinking"
They were thinking? sarc/
Trash bin?
I say sh!tcan this report.
Carolyn
Or, as a colleague of mine once summed up consulting, you go and do analysis until the funding runs out, then you type it up and turn it in.
The gravest misconception taught to college students is the idea that anybody ever does anything other than by the seat of their pants.
Years ago, watched some democracy summit led by Biden on the tube. Almost all of the big Arab players were there (it was held in Saudi Arabia) & there was some kind of electronic voting deal set up to poll the audience. Palestine was the big sticking point cited by the audience. As long as there is any hope that the current Arab governments are gonna attack the Joooz & kick them off of the "Arab" lands they're sitting on, democracy doesn't matter. Years of indoctrination & that old humiliation thing has worked.
Where do you think it came from?
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