thedrifter
03-25-07, 07:42 AM
Give Iraqis one more year
By: North County Times Opinion staff
Our view: Our victory is to give Iraq a chance. Iraq's victory is to make use of our gift
The United States, the British and a few allies have fought in Iraq for four years to accomplish two things of value. We have removed Saddam. We are giving the Iraqis a real chance to create a new Iraq of their choice.
Now it is up to the Iraqis of all factions to hammer out their future. This work of foundation belongs only to them.
Victory in Iraq means two different things to Iraq and to the United States.
Victory for the Iraqis means the creation of a viable, federal state in which Kurds, Shiites and Sunnis can have a stake. This may or may not happen. It is not our choice.
Victory for the United States is to depart Iraq with the sure knowledge that we have given Iraq its chance. Our victory does not require that the Iraqis will succeed, only that we have offered them a future.
Despite the many blunders over four years, enough has been accomplished that our job is nearing an end. Our victory can be accomplished in one more year.
Our exit strategy is to do our job well and to leave ---- whether or not the Iraqis can take advantage of our gift to them.
Our exit strategy requires three things:
First, we forcefully and clearly declare what our job is and how it differs from that of the Iraqis.
Second, we declare that we will help Iraq for another year, but no more.
Third, our magnificent Marines and soldiers will do everything in their power during that year, and then they will come home.
It is a deadline without a single benchmark. All benchmarks are up to the Iraqis. They can stagger forward or decline into anarchy and civil war. If Iraqis cannot found their state, so be it. Iraq will have failed. It is up to them.
Either way, the United States will have won. We will have given Iraq its chance, at a cost of more than 3,000 American lives, more than 300 from Camp Pendleton, and many dreadful injuries. Our troops have made an historic accomplishment, which all Americans must honor.
It is time for clarity. Five years is enough time to do the job.
Ellie
By: North County Times Opinion staff
Our view: Our victory is to give Iraq a chance. Iraq's victory is to make use of our gift
The United States, the British and a few allies have fought in Iraq for four years to accomplish two things of value. We have removed Saddam. We are giving the Iraqis a real chance to create a new Iraq of their choice.
Now it is up to the Iraqis of all factions to hammer out their future. This work of foundation belongs only to them.
Victory in Iraq means two different things to Iraq and to the United States.
Victory for the Iraqis means the creation of a viable, federal state in which Kurds, Shiites and Sunnis can have a stake. This may or may not happen. It is not our choice.
Victory for the United States is to depart Iraq with the sure knowledge that we have given Iraq its chance. Our victory does not require that the Iraqis will succeed, only that we have offered them a future.
Despite the many blunders over four years, enough has been accomplished that our job is nearing an end. Our victory can be accomplished in one more year.
Our exit strategy is to do our job well and to leave ---- whether or not the Iraqis can take advantage of our gift to them.
Our exit strategy requires three things:
First, we forcefully and clearly declare what our job is and how it differs from that of the Iraqis.
Second, we declare that we will help Iraq for another year, but no more.
Third, our magnificent Marines and soldiers will do everything in their power during that year, and then they will come home.
It is a deadline without a single benchmark. All benchmarks are up to the Iraqis. They can stagger forward or decline into anarchy and civil war. If Iraqis cannot found their state, so be it. Iraq will have failed. It is up to them.
Either way, the United States will have won. We will have given Iraq its chance, at a cost of more than 3,000 American lives, more than 300 from Camp Pendleton, and many dreadful injuries. Our troops have made an historic accomplishment, which all Americans must honor.
It is time for clarity. Five years is enough time to do the job.
Ellie