Long-Term Iraq Solutions May Delay Troop Withdrawal
New ideas for solving Iraq's political crisis threaten to delay badly needed Coalition troop withdrawal.
The focus in Congress has shifted recently to some form of federalism that will create three fairly autonomous regions for the Kurds, Sunnis and Shi'a in Iraq. Senator Joseph Biden, D-DE, has proposed such a move (http://www.nationalinterest.org/Article.aspx?id=12006) and there is speculation that the Iraq Study Group, co-chaired by former Secretary of State James Baker and former Congressman Lee Hamilton, may come up with something similar. Even President Bush has indicated a willingness to look at alternatives to his "stay the course" policy.
Iraq's parliament this week approved legislation that lays out a mechanism for forming autonomous federal regions. The regions envisioned are a Shi'a south, a Sunni center, and a Kurdish north.
Sunnis object because as yet no mechanism exists to share oil revenue for their central portion, which has no real oil production.
At this point, however, the move toward some kind of federalism seems the only way to solve the growing sectarian violence.
With a shift in focus to long-term solutions, troop withdrawal may get lost in the shuffle. This would be tragic given a daily death rate of three Coalition troops per day since the war started. The longer troop withdrawal is delayed, the more Marines and soldiers join the KIA ranks.
The FOF troop withdrawal proposal, discussed here on September 30, can easily be adapted to any long-term political solution. See www.fofchange.org and click on FOF Proposal for Troop Withdrawal from Iraq to see how this would work.
Troop withdrawal should be considered as part of any long-term solution to Iraq's woes.
In our view, even an announced intent to withdraw troops would spur Iraqis toward greater cooperation in solving their long-term structural problems. The continued presence of Coalition forces, we believe, is "enabling" Iraqis to avoid tough decisions and continue killing each other.
Any real initiative to solve the Iraq "problem" will come after the election Nov. 7. Depending on that outcome, a solution will most likely be delayed until a new Congress convenes or at least until the Iraq Study Group releases its recommendations.
We applaud renewed efforts to find a solution to the Iraq War. It needs to be found quickly to alleviate the ongoing loss of American troops and Iraqi civilians in pursuit of a “stay the course” policy.
The partisan behavior in Congress is obvious to all Americans. Protestations of Republicans and Democrats to the contrary mean little to thinking people.
Congress should put aside these partisan differences and immediately begin working together for the good of this nation and the protection of American troops and their families. This should be an urgent issue because, while they delay, that 2.3 per day KIA rate continues. -- Paul Schroeder
New ideas for solving Iraq's political crisis threaten to delay badly needed Coalition troop withdrawal.
The focus in Congress has shifted recently to some form of federalism that will create three fairly autonomous regions for the Kurds, Sunnis and Shi'a in Iraq. Senator Joseph Biden, D-DE, has proposed such a move (http://www.nationalinterest.org/Article.aspx?id=12006) and there is speculation that the Iraq Study Group, co-chaired by former Secretary of State James Baker and former Congressman Lee Hamilton, may come up with something similar. Even President Bush has indicated a willingness to look at alternatives to his "stay the course" policy.
Iraq's parliament this week approved legislation that lays out a mechanism for forming autonomous federal regions. The regions envisioned are a Shi'a south, a Sunni center, and a Kurdish north.
Sunnis object because as yet no mechanism exists to share oil revenue for their central portion, which has no real oil production.
At this point, however, the move toward some kind of federalism seems the only way to solve the growing sectarian violence.
With a shift in focus to long-term solutions, troop withdrawal may get lost in the shuffle. This would be tragic given a daily death rate of three Coalition troops per day since the war started. The longer troop withdrawal is delayed, the more Marines and soldiers join the KIA ranks.
The FOF troop withdrawal proposal, discussed here on September 30, can easily be adapted to any long-term political solution. See www.fofchange.org and click on FOF Proposal for Troop Withdrawal from Iraq to see how this would work.
Troop withdrawal should be considered as part of any long-term solution to Iraq's woes.
In our view, even an announced intent to withdraw troops would spur Iraqis toward greater cooperation in solving their long-term structural problems. The continued presence of Coalition forces, we believe, is "enabling" Iraqis to avoid tough decisions and continue killing each other.
Any real initiative to solve the Iraq "problem" will come after the election Nov. 7. Depending on that outcome, a solution will most likely be delayed until a new Congress convenes or at least until the Iraq Study Group releases its recommendations.
We applaud renewed efforts to find a solution to the Iraq War. It needs to be found quickly to alleviate the ongoing loss of American troops and Iraqi civilians in pursuit of a “stay the course” policy.
The partisan behavior in Congress is obvious to all Americans. Protestations of Republicans and Democrats to the contrary mean little to thinking people.
Congress should put aside these partisan differences and immediately begin working together for the good of this nation and the protection of American troops and their families. This should be an urgent issue because, while they delay, that 2.3 per day KIA rate continues. -- Paul Schroeder
posted by Augie's Parents | 10:42 AM
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