From what I gather Basra and southern Iraq has been controlled by Shi'a militias since the Brits all but withdrew, which makes the concept of 'Iraqi progress and democracy' an hilarious notion. Selective sovereignty over portions of the country it seems. Law and order maintained by rival militias and an Iraqi 'police force' that seems to be riddled with moles. The one thing the US and their coalition can do is continue to shoot and kill the 'baddies' without suffering much in the way of losses. The one thing they can't do and are never likely to do is to get broad buy-in from Iraqis for their plans for
their country. I noticed that Bhutan recently peacefully made the transition to democracy today. If they can do it then why is it so difficult in Iraq when so many millions of dollars and so much military might is being thrown at it on a daily basis. The reason is that foreigners can never win a war of choice where they seek to implant their ideals on the 'unruly mob' who should know better than to disagree with the big bad superpower.
We are now FIVE years in with troops bolstered to 30,000 more than was originally dispatched and has the violence stopped? No. It has dropped but it is still ever present. Put in another 30,000 and it'll probably drop another bit but still continue. Put in another 100,000 and maybe it might stop altogether but as soon as you draw down the violence will return. How long will it take before the neo-cons man up and stop fucking with Iraqi's lives. The lie of Iraq being worth even so much as one US soldier's life is getting old.
PS You can't kill Sadr. Well you can but you'd be a complete moron if you did.
Last edited by CameronPoe (2008-03-26 13:26:37)