Finally, I asked him: in his estimation, how long would it be before the Iraqis took full control of their country and American troops could withdraw? He said it would take a generation – 20 years! As a matter of fact, he indicated that his son, who is only 15, is interested in a career in the Air Force and he expects that someday he will be stationed in Iraq.
Understand, Ed meant this 20 year figure just includes the active participation of the U.S. military in quelling the current sectarian violence and the State Department training a new generation of Iraqi leaders. John McCain recently stated he believed a U.S. presence in Iraq would be required to “keep us safe” for another 80 years beyond that (a total of 100 years!).
There is no doubt the U.S. government is hunkered down for a long stay in Iraq. Our leaders are no longer keeping that a secret. Their plans will come to fruition easier if they can keep public sentiment at bay. Telling us the surge is working is a means to that end. However, according to Ed’s briefing, the surge is not working. Discerning Americans need to ask how much longer will we let this fiasco go on? How many more lives will be lost and how much more money diverted away from needs at home to finance a military adventure that offers no guarantee of success?
Article comments
1 - Dave Nalle
I was rather surprised at the slant of this article given the very positive news which has been coming from Iraq in recent weeks - though not getting reported muych in the MSM.
As a US government representative Ed (not his real name) faces far more danger than a common Iraqi would. In general violence in Iraq is the lowest it has been in 4 years. The Mahdi Army has lost 2/3 of its strength and has been forced to give up control of Basra and Sadr city and accept a truce. The last remnants of Al Qaeda are under siege in Mosul. Even the Quds brigades of Iranian invaders are on the ropes. Almost all of the country is now at peace and under control except for a few hotspots.
The fact that 'Ed' is a prime target in one of the few remaining danger areas provides an incredibly skewed perspective of conditions in the country.
Oh, and the 'surge' is over.
Dave
2 - Baronius
I'm thinking that the news in this article is pretty upbeat. Of course it's going to take a couple of decades for things to become stable. That'd be the best-case scenario. That doesn't argue against our presence in Iraq.
There was no guarantee of success in the Civil War. D-Day was a long shot. On the other hand, the Korean War was supposed to be an easy win.