- Jul 16, 2003
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A Democrat wins the Presidency and George W. Bush is defeated. What does this next President do with the Iraq situation ?
Originally posted by: CaptnKirk
Maintain a presence, arrange an equitable troop rotation, and get UN involvement - so we can reduce our troop presence.
1) We can't walk away from this like we have done with other countries in the past, the stakes are too big.
A show of dedication of action is more important that a show of force.
2) If we can entertain a presence from NATO countries, and inject their energies into this action, then the
Iraqi's will see the shift that signals our future exit, and a return to them of their country for 'normalizing'.
3) Most likely the physical attacks would be reduced, extremists would rant and rave, Clerics could hold them in check.
4) Diminishing manpower troop rotations after an assisted ( by UN Peacekeepers ) stabilization period, and
continued reduction in personel involved - US and UN troops, reduction by merit - the calmer it becomes
the more easily we can let it procede, until we are comfortable with the results as we exit.
5) Do not overlook the fact that the present status of Iraq makes them vulnerable to additional attacks by their
untrusting and opportunistic neighboring countries - which may see the chance of a land grab if we left.
6) We have to undertake the defense of that country, until such time that it's military presence may be
re-instated - if ever. Japan had to go with virtually no military of it's own for 50 some years.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Governor Howard Dean, M.D. called for United Nations cooperation in helping rebuild Iraq.
"We knew from the outset we could win this war without much help from others. But we cannot win the peace by continuing to go it alone," Governor Dean said. "Our goal should be what the Administration has promised-an Iraq that is stable, self-sufficient, whole and free. Our strategy to achieve that goal should be based on a partnership with three sides-U.S., international and Iraqi-and a program that begins with seven basic points."
Those points are:
*
A NATO-led coalition should maintain order and guarantee disarmament.
*
Civilian authority in Iraq should be transferred to an international body approved by the U.N. Security Council.
*
The U.N.'s Oil for Food program should be transformed into an Oil for Recovery program, to pay part of the costs of reconstruction and transition.
*
The U.S. should convene an international donor's conference to help finance the financial burden of paying for Iraq's recovery.
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Women should participate in every aspect of the decision-making process.
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A means should be established to prosecute crimes committed against the Iraqi people by individuals associated with Saddam Hussein's regime.
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A democratic transition will take between 18 to 24 months, although troops should expect to be in Iraq for a longer period.
"We must hold the Administration to its promises before the war, and create a world after the war that is safer, more democratic, and more united in winning the larger struggle against terrorism and the forces that breed it," Governor Dean said.
"That is, after all, now much more than a national security objective," he added. "It is a declaration of national purpose, written in the blood of our troops, and of the innocent on all sides who have perished."
Originally posted by: Ultra Quiet
Originally posted by: CaptnKirk
Maintain a presence, arrange an equitable troop rotation, and get UN involvement - so we can reduce our troop presence.
1) We can't walk away from this like we have done with other countries in the past, the stakes are too big.
A show of dedication of action is more important that a show of force.
2) If we can entertain a presence from NATO countries, and inject their energies into this action, then the
Iraqi's will see the shift that signals our future exit, and a return to them of their country for 'normalizing'.
3) Most likely the physical attacks would be reduced, extremists would rant and rave, Clerics could hold them in check.
4) Diminishing manpower troop rotations after an assisted ( by UN Peacekeepers ) stabilization period, and
continued reduction in personel involved - US and UN troops, reduction by merit - the calmer it becomes
the more easily we can let it procede, until we are comfortable with the results as we exit.
5) Do not overlook the fact that the present status of Iraq makes them vulnerable to additional attacks by their
untrusting and opportunistic neighboring countries - which may see the chance of a land grab if we left.
6) We have to undertake the defense of that country, until such time that it's military presence may be
re-instated - if ever. Japan had to go with virtually no military of it's own for 50 some years.
What you are talking about here is a 7-10 year plan. There isn't going to be an equitable troop rotation. Iraq is going to become the Middle eastern equivalent of N. Korea or Germany, a permanent military presence is going to be established there along with increased presence in Kuwait and Qatr. NATO is already in Afghanistan and those countries will not or cannot commit the amount of forces necessary to do what needs to be done in those countries plus their other commitments. We are in Iraq for the long haul, a lot longer than 7-10 years. The trick, obviously, is duplicating what we did in Japan and Germany.