Do you believe we're stuck in a quagmire in Iraq or are there clear solutions and exit strategies?

thanksDo you believe we're stuck in a quagmire in Iraq or are there clear solutions and exit strategies?
First of all, the term ';exit strategy'; is something you develop in case of a fire in your building. It has no relevance in military doctrine or tactics.


If you accept the definition of war set down over a century ago by Baron Karl Von Clausewitz then the military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan meet that definition: Warfare consists of using those military, economic and political means at your disposal to convince your adversary to do your bidding. Certainly the use of our military weapon has resulted in several good signs which seem to allude the attention of our ';main stream media';. All 160 kilometers of the main highway between Baghdad and Baquba is open for commercial and private traffic with no threat to either on the horizon or on the ground. Members of Congress, from both sides of the aisle, who have made repeated trips to the Iraqi Theater of Operations even make comments about how much progress has been made against the Hirabah (terrorists). The economic and political tools weapons require a longer period of time to have an affect. The Ba'athist Party headed up by Saddam Hussein ran a totalitarian political system for years. Prior to 1922, Iraq was really three separate nations: Kingdoms of Mosul, Babylon and Basra. Each group had its own piece of turf. Kurds in Mosul, Sunni in Babylon and Shia in Basra. The history of post-colonial Central Africa teaches us the folly of trapping tribal groups who don't really like each other inside some chunk of geographic fiction created by outsiders just leads to bloodshed and turmoil. So, over the next few years, the light will shine on all and those three areas will be re-created as autonomous ';mini-states'; with all sharing in the oil revenues while having a weaker central government in Baghdad. Something along the lines of the Canadian or Swiss Confederation.


The economic tool is in the process of shifting from a situation of state ownership of key industries and businesses (never forget that the Ba'athist movement involves a socialist economic model). It will probably take less time than that of the economic conversion of former Soviet client states in Eastern Europe since the Ba'thists didn't have as much time running an oppressive regime as the Bolsheviks.


This talk of quagmire is nonsense. Yes, the deaths of our men and women in uniform is regrettable. But, it pales by comparison with previous wars in the 20th Century. It hasn't even approached the active duty death total of the eight years of the previous administration when 7,500 died. Troop levels will be reduced as Iraqi forces stand up and engage the Hirabah. Eventually the U.S. military ';footprint'; will be reduced to the level of a small Military Assistance and Advisory Group.Do you believe we're stuck in a quagmire in Iraq or are there clear solutions and exit strategies?
Still looking for somebody to endorse your stupidity? Get accustom to the idea that we are not going to drop the Hot Potato and screw the Iraqi people like we screwed the South Vietnamese. That ain't going to happen this time around, you were wrong then and you're wrong now, America needs to stand by the Iraqi people and get them started down the road. We stayed with Germany and Japan for 63 years as well as South Korea for 58 years, we'll be with Iraq for as long as it takes!!
It's a quagmire. If we want to avoid a large breakout of violence we are going to have to be there for 100 years, and bankrupt the country in the process. Or, just leave and watch the slaughter. Although I'm inclined to believe that the Iraqis would manage to get off their asses and do something to salvage the situation if we leave.
It's a quagmire in both Iraq and Afghanistan.





I wonder if that why Bush is holding off going into Iran despite israel's constant urging for USA to attack Israel's enemy.





If that is the case - then its the first GOOD decision Bush has made in a very long time.
Anybody who is actually paying attention to events in Iraq can see that we are winning.





I bet that the people who think it is a 'quagmire' cannot even describe Iraq's current government.





Why should we listen to idiots?
I think retard hit it right on the head. We've accomplished nothing over there so far except losing lives and spending trillions of dollars. F#*%26amp; Bush!!
Its a quagmire, now more than ever,I bet Iraqis are looking how is USA plummeting.I bet it will be really difficult to rebuild Iraq....USA has so many problems ...