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2004-04-10 Iraq-Jordan

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Posted by Kirk 2004-04-10 5:16:43 AM|| || Front Page|| [1 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 We probably aren't getting all the information, but from all outward appearances, these jerks all want to have their cake and eat it too. That's not how it works, and quite frankly, this act is getting old. I'm coming to believe that the solution I put forward previously would be the best one: give the south of Iraq to Kuwait, grant the Kurds their own nation, move all US forces out into the areas that have changed hands (which are no doubt going to be friendlier to our presence), and leave the rest to whomever is left, AS IS. No U.S. financed reconsruction, and no U.S. assistance (other than the occasional smackdown when the inhabitants get their frequent "jihad itches"). Let them rot in their own self-created hell.

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2004-04-10 2:10:08 PM|| 2004-04-10 2:10:08 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 Given the sizes of the populations involved, giving "the south of Iraq" to Kuwait, in reality means giving Kuwait to Iraq.

Posted by Aris Katsaris 2004-04-10 4:59:21 PM|| 2004-04-10 4:59:21 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 Sounds good Bomb-a-rama. Just one correction: they wouldn't be rotting in their own self-created hell for very long. The EUropeans would be in there like a dirty shirt faster than you can say Volkswagen. They didn't get applauded by the Arabs for nothing you know (at the UN).

Posted by Rafael 2004-04-10 5:01:08 PM|| 2004-04-10 5:01:08 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 #1 ..but that would be a total defeat for the US in the war against terror..Then the whole Iraq invasion would have made things worse, instead of kickstarting the reform in the ME..

Posted by lyot 2004-04-10 5:01:32 PM|| 2004-04-10 5:01:32 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 Then the whole Iraq invasion would have made things worse, instead of kickstarting the reform in the ME...

Bingo!

It so totally sucks when I'm right.

Posted by Aris Katsaris 2004-04-10 5:09:51 PM|| 2004-04-10 5:09:51 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 Aris, did you predict this before ? I think the US is obliged to stay and root out the opponents.. There's no choice ..

Posted by lyot 2004-04-10 5:14:31 PM|| 2004-04-10 5:14:31 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 I would link to earlier comments I've made, but Rantburg's search facility doesn't allow for the searching of comments (as opposed to articles), unfortunately.

Now, there's indeed no choice. There was no choice from the point US forces entered Iraq, to try and stay for the duration.

Posted by Aris Katsaris 2004-04-10 5:39:08 PM|| 2004-04-10 5:39:08 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 Given the sizes of the populations involved, giving "the south of Iraq" to Kuwait, in reality means giving Kuwait to Iraq.

Nope. Redraw the boundary if necessary. The oil-rich regions are separated as much as possible from the heavily populated cities in the south. Set up a means to patrol the border area and implement iron-clad enforcement. If the Shiites in the southern region can't get their act together, then there's no reason to trust them with control of a precious commodity like crude oil.

Then the whole Iraq invasion would have made things worse, instead of kickstarting the reform in the ME..

This is where the interesting part comes in - separate those who genuinely want to build something new from those who don't. How to do that? I don't know at the moment, although one way to get going in that direction would be to bump off insurgents when they are found. Not captured, or arrested, but killed. That way, their poison is less likely to be spread around, and whomever is left understands that we are pissed off and damned serious. Those who are interested in a better beginning aren't likely to be toting AK-47s around and covering their faces with nicely colored towels.

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2004-04-10 7:11:49 PM|| 2004-04-10 7:11:49 PM|| Front Page Top

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