Posted on 08/19/2007 11:06:07 PM PDT by humint
Next month, Gen. David Petraeus, commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, and Ambassador Ryan Crocker will report to Congress on the situation in my country. I expect that the testimony of these two good men will be qualified and nuanced, as politics requires. I also expect that their assessment will not capture the totality of the tragedy -- that more than four years after its liberation from Saddam Hussein, Iraq is a failing state, not providing the most basic security and services to its people and contributing to an expanding crisis in the Middle East.
Let me be clear. Responsibility for the current mess in Iraq rests primarily with the Iraqi government, not with the United States. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has failed to take advantage of the Iraqi people's desire for peaceful and productive lives and of the enormous commitment and sacrifices made by the United States and other nations. The expected "crisis summit" in Baghdad is further evidence of the near-complete collapse of the Iraqi government. The best outcome of the summit is perhaps a renewed effort or commitment for the participants to work together, which may buy a few more weeks or months of cosmetic political activity. But there will be no lasting political reconciliation under Maliki's sectarian regime.
Who could have imagined that Iraq would be in such crisis more than four years after Saddam Hussein? Each month 2,000 to 3,000 Iraqi civilians are killed by terrorists and sectarian death squads. Electricity and water are available, at best, for only five to six hours a day. Baghdad, once evidence of Iraq's cultural, ethnic and religious diversity, is now a city of armed sectarian enclaves -- much like Beirut of the 1980s.
It is up to Iraqis to end the violence and bring stability, security and democracy to our country. I am working with my colleagues in parliament to build a nonsectarian majority coalition that will support the following six-point plan for a "new era" in Iraq and replace through democratic means the current Iraqi government.
· Iraq must be a full partner with the United States in the development of a security plan that leads to the withdrawal of the majority of U.S. forces over the next two years, and that, before then, gradually and substantially reduces the U.S. combat role. The United States is indispensable to peace and security in Iraq and the greater Middle East. But we owe it to America -- and, more important, to ourselves -- to start solving our own problems. This will not happen as long as the present government is in power.
· I propose declaring a state of emergency for Baghdad and all conflict areas. Iraq's security forces need to be reconstituted. Whenever possible, these reconstituted forces should absorb members of the sectarian and ethnic militias into a nonsectarian security command structure. Empowering militias is not a sustainable solution, because it perpetuates the tensions between communities and undermines the power and authority of the state. A state has no legitimacy if it cannot provide security.
· We need a regional diplomatic strategy that increasingly invests the United Nations and the Arab world in Iraqi security and reconstruction. Washington should not shoulder this diplomatic burden alone, as it largely has until now. Prime Minister Maliki has squandered Iraq's credibility in Arab politics, and he cannot restore it. In addition, Iraq needs to be more assertive in telling Iran to end its interference in Iraqi affairs and in persuading Syria to play a more constructive role in Iraq.
· Iraq must be a single, independent federal state. We should empower local and provincial institutions at the expense of sectarian politics and an all-powerful and overbearing Baghdad. Religion should be a unifying -- not divisive -- force in my country. Iraqis, both Sunni and Shiite, should take pride in their Islamic identity. But when religious sectarianism dominates politics, terrorists and extremists emerge as the sole winners.
· National reconciliation requires an urgent commitment to moderation and ending sectarian violence by integrating all Iraqis into the political process. We should recognize the contribution of the Kurds and the Kurdistan Regional Government to Iraq's democratic future. Reconciliation requires the active engagement of prominent Iraqi Shiite and Sunni political and religious leaders. Maliki has stalled the passage of legislation, proposed in March, to reverse de-Baathification. That proposal should be passed immediately.
· The Iraqi economy has been handicapped by corruption and inadequate security. We must emphasize restoration of the most basic infrastructure. There can be no sustainable economic development and growth without reliable electricity, running and potable water, and basic health care. Over time, Iraq needs to build a free-market economy with a prominent role for the private sector.
It is past time for change at the top of the Iraqi government. Without that, no American military strategy or orderly withdrawal will succeed, and Iraq and the region will be left in chaos.
beer has it’s effects.........self ping for later read
Excellent!
When is Washington going to get the guts to hold the Syrians and Iranians for the death of our soldiers?
It’s time to quite pussy footing around with the Middle East bullies.
Just the opinion of a red state wannabe.
Bring this guy back...he gets it!!! ...And thank him for his continued efforts to help his Country.
No offense to the President I’m dearly glad we have, but we seem to have quite a bit of a border issue ourselves. If we can’t secure OUR border....
bttt
Allawi may have been a better PM than Jafaari or Maliki, but he reads like someone who is bitter about not being in charge anymore. We need a secular Shia in charge, but Allawi is a former Baathist and there is realistically few chances for him to return to the top. His talking points are identical to the MSM crap. Baghdad was once a blossoming heaven of diversity? Oh please...
This immigration mess could be cleared up if Chertoff would be held accountable for upholding the law.
He reads like someone who is bitter about not having his own militia, recognizes what militias are doing to his country and believes militia thugs can be beaten by democratic means.
I would hate to think that my party was solely caving to big business and the hope of more votes. Such shallow reasons. We used to STAND for all that's good in character.
Well, the great thing about pendulums is that they swing back once they've gone too far in one direction. ;-)
It seems that once again the ten commandments come into play. As governments in all countries accrue weapons of mass distruction as they limit their citizens to various forms of small arms ownership, it becomes increasingly obvious that in the future, the only resistance that will work for any oppressed people will be to invoke the old testament. Christianity is the way and the path for all people including Jews and Muslims and Mormons. There is only one thing that all these religions agree on and that is the old testament.
And how embarrassing is it as humans to always fight over religion...the one thing GOD would hope we would NEVER fight about...Him.
Our party relies on more than just votes at this point. It’s very existence relies on conservatives getting out in the community and demonstrating the philosophy that we preach. This means taking part on a local level to make the community a better place by any means available. It is one thing to say that the private sector can take care of the people better than the government can, it is an entirely different case to prove it. Until people see that it is better to make your own way then it is to wait for that check (which comes every week or two) they won’t do anything. The Democratic party exists because citizens of all types sit on their asses. That is the sad reality.
bttt
He gets it ?? Anyone who believes the UN or other Arab states are interested in stability or other than totalitarian rule, or will work constructively with the US, are simply deluding themselves and living in an alternate universe.
Also this article by Allawi has only one goal: Make me Prime Minister.
Note to Self: Read the whole article before posting...sorry.
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