In the debate about Iraq, presidential, media or water cooler, there has been little stimulating conversation about what really to do given the reality on the ground. Breaking down this issue into two impractical choices does not serve the situation in Iraq or US goals and objectives. Building on the “You break it you bought it” mantra I have a plan.
First the break down, what are our choices?
Proponents of the war and extended US involvement represented best by The Surge/any amount of money and resources we might attempt to throw at Iraq, cannot provide for a government that is willing to pass legislation and work past ethnic partisanship. We “stay” and maintain the status quo, fight fires and US troops continue to die driving down the street policing Iraq’s civil war at astronomical long term cost to you and me without any real accountability. Patton's "America doesn't accept defeat" doesn't apply because like Vietnam what is there to win. So the rhetorical “stay” argument does not provide any real reason for support.
While the “go” argument feels good at first it does not sit well with me either. How could we go and leave such a mess behind we are America, we solve problems-go to the moon, send robots to Mars. I know, how do we solve a problem that is based more on the religious and ethnic reshuffling of the Middle East than establishing the institutions of a given state. Ideally we would establish 3 separate states and police the rural borders, however, at this point or until then, if we are going to stay I need something that Iraq can provide, a reason to stay.
It is important to add here that I have been a zealous opponent of the war as a matter of resource allocation. From a public policy perspective the war in Iraq funnels money away from programs that we might pursue to really improve the security and livelihood of our citizens. But our elected representatives made a decision and now we have to roll with it. I propose that before we toss in the towel, allow for an even greater danger to arise we get some return on our investment in Iraq. Perhaps instead of asking what more can we do in Iraq we should be asking what can Iraq do for us. Bonus, if the Iraqi government has a problem with this arrangement well then they can get their act together and pass the legislation necessary to begin to function like an independent nation. Nothing would cure Iraqi political ills better than finally giving them an ultimatum that has some weight attached.
So what can Iraq do for us? What does Iraq have to offer? .Actually quite a bit, and it just so happens it is what we require most. With global demand and price for oil reaching new highs daily aided by the dollars decline, we can use our stabilizing presence at the “request” of the Iraqi government in return for American control and subsidized oil for as long as we stay and manage their civil war. If we are going to be there any way we might as well get something that will hedge our economy against energy inflation.
This argument was strengthened recently when the New York Times reported that according to the US military at least one-third of the oil from Iraq is diverted to the black market and fueling the Sunni insurgency. Reason enough. However, it may also provide the cover necessary for Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish leadership to table oil revenue sharing, the defining issue since the invasion, and make progress elsewhere. Send in Cheney’s war profiteers to do the job, at least they won’t be billing us this time around.
Since I am putting these words together I have one requirement to make of the American people and their government. Do not foolishly take this opportunity to buy big cars and waste more precious resources. Instead, use the Iraqi oil buffer to build up our domestic energy technology industry so that our economy might really grow again. We have already wasted enough time on bad policy.
Admittedly this solution is fraught with concern, precedents and otherwise. Regardless, if it finally helps to stabilize the governments revenue base and provide us with something we can all use it will be doing more than 6 years with nothing and gone. If they reject this proposition then I will have a clear conscious that we need to cut our losses and withdraw.
First the break down, what are our choices?
Proponents of the war and extended US involvement represented best by The Surge/any amount of money and resources we might attempt to throw at Iraq, cannot provide for a government that is willing to pass legislation and work past ethnic partisanship. We “stay” and maintain the status quo, fight fires and US troops continue to die driving down the street policing Iraq’s civil war at astronomical long term cost to you and me without any real accountability. Patton's "America doesn't accept defeat" doesn't apply because like Vietnam what is there to win. So the rhetorical “stay” argument does not provide any real reason for support.
While the “go” argument feels good at first it does not sit well with me either. How could we go and leave such a mess behind we are America, we solve problems-go to the moon, send robots to Mars. I know, how do we solve a problem that is based more on the religious and ethnic reshuffling of the Middle East than establishing the institutions of a given state. Ideally we would establish 3 separate states and police the rural borders, however, at this point or until then, if we are going to stay I need something that Iraq can provide, a reason to stay.
It is important to add here that I have been a zealous opponent of the war as a matter of resource allocation. From a public policy perspective the war in Iraq funnels money away from programs that we might pursue to really improve the security and livelihood of our citizens. But our elected representatives made a decision and now we have to roll with it. I propose that before we toss in the towel, allow for an even greater danger to arise we get some return on our investment in Iraq. Perhaps instead of asking what more can we do in Iraq we should be asking what can Iraq do for us. Bonus, if the Iraqi government has a problem with this arrangement well then they can get their act together and pass the legislation necessary to begin to function like an independent nation. Nothing would cure Iraqi political ills better than finally giving them an ultimatum that has some weight attached.
So what can Iraq do for us? What does Iraq have to offer? .Actually quite a bit, and it just so happens it is what we require most. With global demand and price for oil reaching new highs daily aided by the dollars decline, we can use our stabilizing presence at the “request” of the Iraqi government in return for American control and subsidized oil for as long as we stay and manage their civil war. If we are going to be there any way we might as well get something that will hedge our economy against energy inflation.
This argument was strengthened recently when the New York Times reported that according to the US military at least one-third of the oil from Iraq is diverted to the black market and fueling the Sunni insurgency. Reason enough. However, it may also provide the cover necessary for Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish leadership to table oil revenue sharing, the defining issue since the invasion, and make progress elsewhere. Send in Cheney’s war profiteers to do the job, at least they won’t be billing us this time around.
Since I am putting these words together I have one requirement to make of the American people and their government. Do not foolishly take this opportunity to buy big cars and waste more precious resources. Instead, use the Iraqi oil buffer to build up our domestic energy technology industry so that our economy might really grow again. We have already wasted enough time on bad policy.
Admittedly this solution is fraught with concern, precedents and otherwise. Regardless, if it finally helps to stabilize the governments revenue base and provide us with something we can all use it will be doing more than 6 years with nothing and gone. If they reject this proposition then I will have a clear conscious that we need to cut our losses and withdraw.
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