fly at night

Via the Captain’s Quarters

The UK Guardian is the New York Times of Britton. No war is authorized unless the editors deem it acceptable and only if the war is fought under the rules established by the editorial board. I say this so that you will know that this source in Bush’s hip-pocket.

The so-called axis of moderate Arab states – comprising Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan – dreads an early US withdrawal. First, because it would be widely interpreted as an American defeat, which would weaken these pro-American regimes while both energising and radicalising their populations.

Second, if the US leaves, the emergence of a Shia regime in Iraq – in itself an offensive prospect to them – would only be a matter of time. Facing Arab antipathy, this regime would be likely to look eastward and forge close ties with its Iranian co-religionists. In the view of most Arabs, this would present a formidable challenge, setting in motion a series of dangerous events – an Iranian-Iraqi alliance; political and material support from Arab countries being offered to disgruntled Iraqi Sunni groups; retaliation by Iraqi forces; and the threat of broader regional involvement.

Third, a US departure risks triggering Iraq’s partition. As some Arabs see it, the occupation is what holds the country together. So long as coalition forces are deployed, a full-blown breakup can be avoided.

In contrast, with the Americans gone, the odds of partition would increase dramatically, presenting a threat to the integrity and security of regional states. Exacerbating dormant, and in some cases not so dormant, secessionist tendencies would be one concern. Perhaps more worrying would be the ensuing challenge to the legitimacy of the fundamental tenets of nationhood, state, and national borders.

So many have focused on Iraq without looking at the larger picture. We started this war, we are there, and our decisions should be made from that basis not a pre-war retro thought.

Who determines what the facts are? The New York Times or Washington Post? If you are inclined to having your “facts” fed to you then they are. The power of the media to “inform” the public has led the MSM to the idea that they can construct narratives to tell the story that they want and call it history or the truth.

It is clear that many have failed to be informed of the bigger picture. Bush has never spelled out the totality of his “mission”. The MSM has apparently withheld relevant information from the public. Neither are doing their job very well.

I have discussed the Kurds many times. The problem with Iraq breaking up into separate countries based upon theocracy is that such actions will likely bring more war. The Turks disdain the Kurds and will certainly declare war on them. This is a war that the Kurds simply can’t win. But where is the beloved negotiations and discussions between these two factions? No word from Harry Reid on this issue.

Do we really believe that the Sunnis will sit back and let their brethren in Iraq get slaughtered after our precipitous withdrawal? Does the left really believe that our departure will bring peace to Iraqi’s, Palestinians, Syrians, and Lebanese?

The Iranian leadership can see the writing on the wall. Stir the pot a little so as not to bring the world to a boil and simply wait for the American Progressives do what Iran has failed to do over the decades – hand over Iraq to the Persians.

The Guardian concludes

In this grim picture, the Americans appear the least sure and most confused. With unattainable objectives, wobbly plans, changing tactics, shifting alliances and ever-increasing casualties, it is not clear any longer what they want or how they are going to achieve it. By setting themselves up to be manipulated, they give credence to an old Arab saying: the magic has taken over the magician.

This is a real assessment of where we are today. There is one thing that is certain in this region, handing over the keys to Iraq to AL-QAEDA or the Iranians is not an option. The Arab states must stand up now to bring the region back into a position of reasonable order. Allowing terrorists to gain a stronghold in this area would be a disaster. Allowing Iran to gain nuclear power will then require the Saudi’s and Egyptian’s to do the same.

The withdrawal demanded by the American Progressives will create the situation most desired by the left. Let the Middle-East fall into chaos and come in later as “peacekeepers” to clean up the mess created by the withdrawal.

The focus is on Iraq but the impact is on the region. We can’t return to September 10 because those are days gone by. We must look to the future and gain unity in America to fix what we broke. Our arrogance got us into this position and our lack of backbone will create a bigger mess if we fail to look at the bigger picture.