.Mission Accomplished, Again
When President Bush said to Iraq’s new leaders yesterday that "the fate and future of Iraq is in your hands," he meant: I want the future to be in your hands, that despite all of the talk of America keeping its word, despite U.S. support for Iraqi democracy, despite terrorists who are in Iraq and able to regularly travel from country to country in the region, the desire of the Bush administration is to withdraw U.S. forces and turn "security" over to Baghdad, mission accomplished, again.
American withdrawal might not be imminent, and Bush and military insiders might not even foresee a complete withdrawal of U.S. forces as the eventual outcome, but does anyone not see what is really going on here, that the White House is urging Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki to get on with it, to "seize the moment," as the President said, to ask the United States to leave, mission accomplished, again.
Ever since the administration published its “National Strategy for Victory in Iraq” late last year, the policy has been clear: The United States military is no longer in Iraq to “win” the war, to defeat the terrorists, to put down the insurgency, to stem a civil war. It is there holding the line, training Iraqis and waiting, waiting for the day when it can honorably withdraw, problem turned over to a new Iraqi government, army, police, and secret service, mission accomplished, again.
One could be cynical about the Bush administration's not so subtle shift in policy and its covert conviction to withdraw in the face of overwhelming American public disapproval of the current enterprise, one could say elections loom, popularity falters, but the truth of the matter is, Bush is making the right decision.
I know the situation in Iraq is very dicey, and all the unprecedented secrecy surrounding the President’s trip was necessitated by “operational security,” but perhaps in its desire to put the new Iraqi government on more solid footing, the American government could perhaps, um, show Iraq some respect.
It is very nice of the President of the United States to drop in on the new Iraqi leader, to lend his support, to “look him in the eye,” to urge the Iraqis on to American victory.
But you could hardly call the trip a state visit? Unannounced, Air Force One touched down at an airport closed by American edict, the President was whisked away on American equipment, American guns ready to blaze, to an American village in the center of the capital, secured by American soldiers, who closed bridges and barricaded streets.
Poor al-Maliki. The Iraqi leader and his new cabinet had the indignity of being summonsed to Saddam’s old Republican Palace, America’s Embassy and main command center in the “green zone,” ostensibly to attend what they thought was a video teleconference with the President of the United States only to arrive and meet the boss.
No doubt the Iraqi leader was let in on the plan earlier than anyone else was and knew what to expect in the American lock-down, but it is hardly a picture of an independent and sovereign nation able to defend itself or guarantee security, even for a few hours.
Al-Maliki himself was given minimal notice of the visit, American officials told the news media yesterday, which means that all of the preparations, closing airspace and airports, clearances, security, etc., was really solely in the hands of the United States, the occupier.
Maybe meeting the President of the United States is a bigger deal than I am willing to admit, but the best outcome from American from this whirlwind would be for al-Maliki to be furious, and to make it clear to America that in the future, this is his country and if the President of the United States once again makes a surprise visit, he will do so under Iraqi control, with Iraqi security, and visit the Iraqi leader at his home or office.
"I … have a message to the Iraqi people: that when America gives a commitment, America will keep its commitment," the President later said to a group of some 300 American soldiers and civilians gathered in Republican Palace. The President, I guess, can’t resist a good yarn, and I’m sure as U.S. forces withdraw, terrorists still intact, insurgency raging, civil war simmering, the President will say that that commitment was honored.
"God willing, all the suffering will soon be over and all the coalition soldiers can return to their countries,” al-Maliki told reporters. Looking pained, al-Maliki listened to the big Enchilada saying that U.S. forces would not withdraw until the new government is capable of defending itself.
Long faced and inscrutable, I hope al-Maliki was thinking: you and me both brother, mission accomplished already.
WaPo
Recommended by Fayrouz in Beaumont as it helps explain Iraqi indignation over the Bush surprise visit, something that was news to me. As I told Fay in a email exchange, just goes to show how badly we need a good ME'strn advisors in the White House.
Apparently the ones we have now are sleeping on the job, or would not know their ass from a hole in Iraq.
Thanks Fay for helping me understand, again.
American withdrawal might not be imminent, and Bush and military insiders might not even foresee a complete withdrawal of U.S. forces as the eventual outcome, but does anyone not see what is really going on here, that the White House is urging Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki to get on with it, to "seize the moment," as the President said, to ask the United States to leave, mission accomplished, again.
Ever since the administration published its “National Strategy for Victory in Iraq” late last year, the policy has been clear: The United States military is no longer in Iraq to “win” the war, to defeat the terrorists, to put down the insurgency, to stem a civil war. It is there holding the line, training Iraqis and waiting, waiting for the day when it can honorably withdraw, problem turned over to a new Iraqi government, army, police, and secret service, mission accomplished, again.
One could be cynical about the Bush administration's not so subtle shift in policy and its covert conviction to withdraw in the face of overwhelming American public disapproval of the current enterprise, one could say elections loom, popularity falters, but the truth of the matter is, Bush is making the right decision.
I know the situation in Iraq is very dicey, and all the unprecedented secrecy surrounding the President’s trip was necessitated by “operational security,” but perhaps in its desire to put the new Iraqi government on more solid footing, the American government could perhaps, um, show Iraq some respect.
It is very nice of the President of the United States to drop in on the new Iraqi leader, to lend his support, to “look him in the eye,” to urge the Iraqis on to American victory.
But you could hardly call the trip a state visit? Unannounced, Air Force One touched down at an airport closed by American edict, the President was whisked away on American equipment, American guns ready to blaze, to an American village in the center of the capital, secured by American soldiers, who closed bridges and barricaded streets.
Poor al-Maliki. The Iraqi leader and his new cabinet had the indignity of being summonsed to Saddam’s old Republican Palace, America’s Embassy and main command center in the “green zone,” ostensibly to attend what they thought was a video teleconference with the President of the United States only to arrive and meet the boss.
No doubt the Iraqi leader was let in on the plan earlier than anyone else was and knew what to expect in the American lock-down, but it is hardly a picture of an independent and sovereign nation able to defend itself or guarantee security, even for a few hours.
Al-Maliki himself was given minimal notice of the visit, American officials told the news media yesterday, which means that all of the preparations, closing airspace and airports, clearances, security, etc., was really solely in the hands of the United States, the occupier.
Maybe meeting the President of the United States is a bigger deal than I am willing to admit, but the best outcome from American from this whirlwind would be for al-Maliki to be furious, and to make it clear to America that in the future, this is his country and if the President of the United States once again makes a surprise visit, he will do so under Iraqi control, with Iraqi security, and visit the Iraqi leader at his home or office.
"I … have a message to the Iraqi people: that when America gives a commitment, America will keep its commitment," the President later said to a group of some 300 American soldiers and civilians gathered in Republican Palace. The President, I guess, can’t resist a good yarn, and I’m sure as U.S. forces withdraw, terrorists still intact, insurgency raging, civil war simmering, the President will say that that commitment was honored.
"God willing, all the suffering will soon be over and all the coalition soldiers can return to their countries,” al-Maliki told reporters. Looking pained, al-Maliki listened to the big Enchilada saying that U.S. forces would not withdraw until the new government is capable of defending itself.
Long faced and inscrutable, I hope al-Maliki was thinking: you and me both brother, mission accomplished already.
WaPo
Recommended by Fayrouz in Beaumont as it helps explain Iraqi indignation over the Bush surprise visit, something that was news to me. As I told Fay in a email exchange, just goes to show how badly we need a good ME'strn advisors in the White House.
Apparently the ones we have now are sleeping on the job, or would not know their ass from a hole in Iraq.
Thanks Fay for helping me understand, again.
posted by madtom at 2:33 PM
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