Iraq Internal Withdrawal Idea Goes Mainstream
For over a year now at NoSpeedBumps I have been saying that what needs to be done in Iraq is to move toward an internal withdrawal of US forces on to bases within Iraq. I even started a monthly countdown. Not that these guys read my blog, but it looks like this a central piece of the James Baker study group’s recommendation:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Iraq Study Group has decided to recommend the U.S. military transition from a combat to a support role in Iraq roughly over the next year, a source familiar with the panel’s deliberations said on Wednesday.
“The main thing is (the group is) calling for a transition from a combat role to a support role,” said the source, who spoke on condition that he not be named. “It’s basically a redeployment.”
The source said the idea was to shift U.S. combat forces both to bases inside Iraq as well as elsewhere in the region as the military gradually moved away from combat operations, adding that this should happen over the next year or so.
Why go this route? Here is the explanation I gave in August of this year:
From bases we can continue to help with intelligence gathering and analysis, logistics support, training, and overall advising of Iraq forces. We can also let it be known that for us to stay, Iraq needs to stay on the path toward democracy and freedom.
Of course this assumes that democracy and freedom are compatible with Iraq. But we must continue on assuming that it is and that the killings there will decline with time. What’s the alternative, just withdraw totally and hope for the best? Or pick a new dictator, a kinder gentler Saddam?
And then I added:
Of course the overriding reason for getting our troops on to bases is to get them out of harm’s way!
November 30th, 2006 at 2:11 am
The Baker commission’s recommendation is less than useful. What people were expecting is some big ideas or at least more concrete step by step solutions to the Iraq problem. For starters, they should have pointed out how exactly the US is going to keep this current Iraq government in one piece. The news media is reporting that big meeting between the Iraq and US leadership were called off. It looks like these people can’t no longer even put up the appearence that they are on the same team. This should surprised to no own inside the administraiton, according to the leak memo, there is little confidence that the current Iraqi leader is going to be able to carry their own load. What is likely to happen is after spending biliions of tax payer money and thousands of American lifes, we will walk away from Iraq empty handed.
November 30th, 2006 at 2:22 am
nobody,
The choices are:
1) Just withdraw. Likely outcome: Total anarchy in Iraq making today look like child’s play.
2) Stay for years and hope things will improve. Certain outcome: A whole lot more American soldiers get killed or wounded.
3) Try an internal withdrawal. Outcome: Uncertain, but is likely the best option to try.
So I disagree that the “Baker commission’s recommendation is less than useful”. It may provide the political cover for both Democrats and Republicans to try option 3, rather than just arguing over options 1 and 2.