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A very cogent column by controversial former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew on Iraq.
The Cost Of Retreat In Iraq
Seeded on Sat Mar 8, 2008 3:10 PM EST
Article Source: The Washington Post- Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.
- Public Discussion (11)
The United States clearly cannot stay in Iraq alone. America needs a coalition. This will require a more multilateral approach, which in turn requires clarity and a close examination of the strategic stakes. The domestic American debate on Iraq affects world public opinion and thus the political viability and sustainability of any multinational coalition.
Despite Mr. Lee's calls and the fact that the US currently operates in Iraq under UN mandate I don't see the prospects for added international involvement in a constructive way especially considering NATO's failures in Afghanistan in what was originally called the "good war."
- 4 votes
#1 - Sat Mar 8, 2008 3:14 PM ESTI think the last time the UN fought a decent war was in Korea. And the US did most of the work and ran it.
Still, I do think that he is right in that we stay in Iraq until the job is done. He outlined some pretty scary consequences.
- 4 votes
The UN is capable of doing very good work in certain areas mainly related to economic redevelopment, etc. It pretty much left after the murder of Sergio Vieira de Mello back in '03.
- 3 votes
I would love for the left-wingers who are calling out for us to get out and save our money so we can funnel it into socialized medicine to read this article. I don't know how many times I've commented on the need to stay and get the job done since I first decided that it was definitely the right thing to do (which wasn't so long ago). Those arguing to pull out can be compelling, but if you understand much of what is going on over there, their points become moot.
As I have typed out several times on several threads over the last few days alone, if we leave now we are doomed to return to fight a stronger enemy another day.
- 3 votes
Just a note I failed to make earlier - this is a powerful article written by a wonderfully credible source. I grateful to the author and to Bill for seeding this.
Well done!
- 1 vote
I clipped this to my column. Not that it will get a lot more traffic that way, but it deserves many more visits!
- 1 vote
Thanks. Of course lost among the hoopla of Samantha Power's comment on Hillary being a "monster" was the bigger story in the same interview when she implied Obama's selling a bill of irresponsible goods on his "pullout now" meme vis-a-vis Iraq.
- 1 vote
Bill,
With all the campaign rhetoric on withdrawal, no one has actually proffered any specific, viable exit strategies of their own. What is for sure is that we can neither stay on our own or leave on our own, as the author clearly points out, there is way too much at stake. We'll see what the real agendas and plans for Iraq are after the inauguration, as always. Thanks for this realistic seed Bill...
- 1 vote
#2 - Sat Mar 8, 2008 9:44 PM ESTThanks, Hamid. Given what I've learned about insurgencies and such situations as is represented by Iraq I would say that any full withdrawal of US combat troops is probably still about three years or so off and that's predicated on outside actors like Saudi Arabia, Iran and Syria not having any more input into the situation than they already have. And it would certainly be better if the UN had more of a contribution to the rebuilding efforts than has previously happened. If the security situation continues to improve (and that's a big, big if as we draw down forces) I would hope that more of a UN response is forthcoming.
Here is an interesting related article about our responsibility to stay and work for the refugees that have been misplaced in Iraq. It was written by Angelina Jolie, a UN representative to Iraq, after her recent visit and after meeting with Iraqi leaders, General Patraeus, and some of the troops. I found her comments very compelling. She argues the moral responsibility we have to the refugees. This also goes along nicely with Hamid's article on Powers.
- 1 vote
I think Ms. Power and Angelina are the genuine article. The real deal. No matter to me that some differences may come up here and there, they are profoundly deep and genuine in their concerns. (And both more than a little hot, but my weak mind wanders, sorry ;)
- 1 vote
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