Battlefield decisions are now clearly being made for political reasons.
"The U.S. military today halted its offensive against anti-coalition forces inside the city of Fallujah to allow talks that could lead to a cease-fire and to allow humanitarian aid, civilian administrator Paul Bremer said."
That's this morning's news and it is alarming. I won't spell out the comparisons. They are obvious. PD's bells are going off and for good reason. All wars are political but in the "political war" equation, the word war should play a larger role than the word political.
This war was pretty much over after 21 days when armored columns drove right into Baghdad opposed by nothing more than the Iraqi equivalent of the American redneck. Towel headed guys driving Ford pickup trucks with old Iraqi flag bumper stickers armed with militia-styled weapons. Hell, they even believe the South will rise again. I saw it on TV. Where were the tanks? Incinerated with airpower. I saw it on TV.
The war was REALLY over when Saddam was captured. We've achieved our goals. It's amazing that we've captured Saddam. Bush should gloat more.
The path to Democracy has started in Iraq. No more Saddam! I don't agree with putting more troops in Iraq. I don't agree with putting EU troops in Iraq. That's just more targets. The goals of the war were achieved quickly and efficiently with a historically small operation. That part of the war was run as well as any way has ever been run. If you disagree, go ahead and cite counterexamples.
But a war can't be won if you are still fighting it. It's in the rules.
If I were president this is what I would say,
"700 of our bravest died to free you 25 million Iraqis from the savage Saddam. Now, you 25 million get your shit together and run your country. You have 90 days. If you fuck it up, too bad. We're going home!
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