One of the better political commentaries I have seen is this one on youtube. Don't turn it off immediately. It is worth going through.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdPpjUVwPUI&feature=related
"Webcam Pundits".
Posted by bernarda at March 31, 2008 12:55 PMThe Iraq military will never be able to stand on its own as long as America occupies Iraq. The reason? The US will never allow Iraq Armed Forces to have heavy artillery, warplanes, attack helicopters, tanks and other heavy armor. Why? Because our Generals on the Ground realize the Iraqis could and probably would use those weapons against our forces. Once we leave, Iraq can aquire the weapons on their own and I imagine do a fair job at rooting out each others religious sects and/or keeping peace. It's not that Iraqis can't fight...it's clear they can (4000+ dead GI's). We are occupying them.
Posted by T2 at March 31, 2008 01:03 PMagreed T2, and I just have this quibble with Turkana...it's not really a war that's going on...it's a resistance against an American occupation of their homeland, by various religi0us and sectarian groups differing over how best to put Iraq back together again when the Americans finally leave...and leave they will, it's just a matter of when.
Calling it a war just plays into the false republican frame of why we are over there...
oh yeah, why are we over there?
john,
it can be an occupation and a war at the same time. which it is.
Posted by Turkana at March 31, 2008 01:26 PMTurkana, if it is a war than who is the enemy, the Iraqi people, the Shia, the Sunnis. The war is over, it is now a police action and we are playing cops.
Posted by Eric at March 31, 2008 08:29 PM