The War In Iraq: Our Options

[minionofmidas]

No win situation no matter what happens and has been since the second Bush decided to invade.

No, there's been no hope of anything other than a no-win situation for much longer than that.

Eh... we're all mortal, so there's no hope of anything but a no-win situation on earth anyways...

[minionofmidas]

in a peaceful manner

Is there an example of ethnic cleansing being done in a peaceful manner?

Turkey, Greece and Bulgaria post-1923?

Notice that a) that doesn't change the fact that people are still bitter about it 80 years on b) this was agreed on between and carried through by settled previously existing governments.

[nlm]

The only real solution that I see in Iraq is not one you have listed.

Screw the whole idea of installing a democratic government there. Find the means to dissolve their parlament (declare marshall law or some such excuse) - it's just a bunch of petty thugs any how - and install a Perez Musharraf type pseudo-democracy. Arm them and let them brutally inforce the law and place a priority on securing their boarders. At the same time - use American forces to defend this leader ( I guess al-Maliki would have to be that person, but there may be other options) until such time as he has secured the nation to our satisfaction - no time lines, but a clear cut change in the mission of the US troops.

If Bush would back a more realistic goal - like this one, as opposed to some pipe dream about a democratic state in Iraq in his life time - I think he would find a great deal more support. As long as Bush clings to his pipe dream we are just throwing away money and lives.