Leaked Iraq war files portray weak, divided nation

WASHINGTON -The enormous cache of secret war logs disclosed by the WikiLeaks website paints a picture of an Iraq burdened by persistent sectarian tension and meddling neighbors, suggesting that the country could drift into chaos once U.S. forces leave. The reports, covering early 2004 to Jan. 1, 2010, help explain why Iraq's struggle to create a unified, independent state continues, despite a dramatic reduction in violence. They appear to support arguments by some experts that the U.S. should keep thousands of troops there beyond their scheduled departure in 2011, to buy more time for Iraq to become stable. The threats described in the leaked documents come from outside, including next-door Iran, as well as inside, in the form of sectarian, political and even family rivalries that predate the 2003 American-led invasion and endure today. The reports demonstrate the weakness of Iraq's civic institutions, court system and military, even before sectarian violence exploded in 2006-2007.

After all is said and done, I will not weep if Iraq divides into three countries (Quietist Shiite, Suni and Kurd), but will get seriously alarmed if, still unified, it gets taken over by an Iranian proxy.

Blah, blah, blah...suggesting that the country could drift into chaos once U.S. forces leave.

Gee, it takes a genius to figure this out?
I always figured that was Obama’s plan, the
same for Afghanistan, half the wanted “surge”
then get out and let the place go to hell, blame
it on the Bush administration.

2 posted on 10/23/2010 2:56:40 PM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)

3 posted on 10/23/2010 2:58:49 PM PDT by reefdiver ("Let His day's be few And another takes His office")

Please...I wouldn't trust this stuff as far as I could toss Rosie O'Donnell.

4 posted on 10/23/2010 3:05:58 PM PDT by KC_Lion (Lord help our Armed Service members that they not become pawns in Hussein's quest to destroy America)

Before getting to the question of trust, you have to wonder what if...? If Iraq falls apart, I won’t weep. If it consolidates on the side of the nasties, I would. What will happen? Either they’ll stay together and stay on the light side of the force, or they’ll fall apart, or they’ll stay together and go over to the dark side. So there’s only one scenario that’s unacceptable. What is the US doing to ward off this unacceptable scenario? (shrug)

5 posted on 10/23/2010 3:13:17 PM PDT by Eleutheria5 ( They cry "Piece, piece." And there is no peace.)

Not to worry my FRiend, I know zero and the democrats have a way for F****g things up, but believe me plans exists to prevent this sort of thing from happening. Do not let these asses at Wikileaks get the better of you. Look at all the what-ifs in history, if you counted them all than we could have another stimulus!

6 posted on 10/23/2010 3:22:23 PM PDT by KC_Lion (Lord help our Armed Service members that they not become pawns in Hussein's quest to destroy America)

This is all part of the RAT strategy to turn everyone against the evil Republicans who were in power during most of the war time frame. Would not surprise me to find out the Obama admin leaked the data - but since the RAT party controls all aspects of the Government there will be no investigations into the leaks, other than at some lower levels. When it bubbles up high enough the lid will be clamped down good and tight and we will never know how the treasonous wikileak guy got them.

7 posted on 10/23/2010 3:26:40 PM PDT by Cheerio (Barry Hussein Soetoro-0bama=The Complete Destruction of American Capitalism)

If it happens while he’s in office, he’ll get the blame. If he tries to blame Bush, he’ll look craven and still get the blame. No worries. The MSM can try to spin this ‘til their heads fall off, but after the first six months, what happens when you’re in office is your fault. If he thinks otherwise, he’ll find out the hard way.

8 posted on 10/23/2010 3:30:41 PM PDT by Eleutheria5 ( They cry "Piece, piece." And there is no peace.)

There is a ‘Plan’.

The US has been in South Korea since the Armistice in 1953. I believe the ‘powers that be’ will see a reason to station some forces in Iraq and Afghanistan personality. Even ‘THIS’ Administration will see that as they really don’t want an isolationist policy in foreign affairs.

10 posted on 10/23/2010 4:33:10 PM PDT by K-oneTexas (I'm not a judge and there ain't enough of me to be a jury. (Zell Miller, A National Party No More))

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