That's been something demanded all along - "How can we tell when we've won? What's the exit strategy?"
The exit strategy is clear - we leave when the government of Iraq asks us to.
And they have. Oh, there will be a good bit of negotiating, but in time we'll likely have much less of a footprint there than we do in Germany. And THAT's been there for 60+ years.
Iraq official: U.S. could be out by 2011 - CNN.comThe Iraqis went to the brink - and stepped firmly back. They've seen what their 'brothers in Allah' wanted for them, and they rejected it firmly. Now - Shiite and Sunni and Christian are building a new Iraq, and defending it from those who would tear it apart.BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- A deadline should be set for the withdrawal of U.S. and allied forces from Iraq, and the pullout could be done by 2011, an Iraqi government spokesman said Tuesday.
Ali al-Dabbagh, an Iraqi government spokesman, says a U.S. troop withdrawal in three to five years is possible.
Ali al-Dabbagh said any timetable would depend on "conditions and the circumstances that the country would be undergoing." But he said a pullout within "three, four or five" years was possible.
"It can be 2011 or 2012," al-Dabbagh said. "We don't have a specific date in mind, but we need to agree on the principle of setting a deadline."
What does 'winning in Iraq' look like?
I'd say... like this.
J.
Comments (4)
Might not be that soon...we haven't started chapter 2 yet...
http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/former-cia-agent-in-iran-comes-in-from-the-heat/?print=1
Posted by suek | July 9, 2008 1:38 PM
Posted on July 9, 2008 13:38
I read that article the other day--scared the fool out of me.
I was secretly hoping that the mullahs were only pretending to believe that 12th-Imam-invoking stuff was true, and just kept Ahmadamnutjob around for giggles.
If "Khalili" is correct, we -- that is, the non-crazies -- are in for some bad times. But it's not like they didn't warn us...
Posted by MC | July 9, 2008 8:21 PM
Posted on July 9, 2008 20:21
Yeah... it's not like they didn't warn us.
But too many people aren't going to believe it until they try something - and even then a lot will attempt to excuse it one way or another.
Add in the folks in the West who don't believe western civilization is worthy of survival because it isn't 'perfect', and it looks like interesting times are ahead indeed...
J.
Posted by JLawson | July 9, 2008 10:33 PM
Posted on July 9, 2008 22:33
As a Sovereign Nation they can ask us to leave and we should and will do so... but the internal politics in Iraq are about to liquidate the immediate post-war coalition and Maliki is trying to survive that. Iraq Awakening is real, it is serious and it will alter the internal structure of Iraq... the provincial elections this fall will demonstrate that, and watch for inroads by the Awakening in mixed communities and see if it spreads into the south of Iraq.
Iran is playing games, but they also know nitroglycerine when they see it: Persian Shia are not Arab Shia and the majority of Arab Shia in Iraq supported the war with Iran. That is *not* sectarian religion playing a part, but ethnic outlook. Maliki got to see Iran up-close and personal while he was out of the country... there is a reason he is taking a hardline view to al Sadr and his Iranian backers. The man wants his coalition to get re-elected... and right now it is slipping through his fingers unless he firms up support from the Sunni and Kurds. Because if Iraq Awakening spreads deep into Shia territory, the coalition falls hard as the Shia secularists, Sunni and Kurds get together.
Dance very quickly Mr. Maliki. You wanted the dance card... now the tune is changing.
Posted by ajacksonian | July 13, 2008 5:57 AM
Posted on July 13, 2008 05:57