So What’s Next?
Bob Herbert of the New York Times commented on the Iraq Study Group report yesterday:
On Wednesday, as if the release of the Iraq Study Group report needed some form of dramatic punctuation, 11 more American G.I.’s were killed in this misbegotten war that just about everyone, except perhaps the president, now sees as a complete and utter debacle.
[...]
The primary value of the Baker-Hamilton report is that it embodies, in clear and explicit language, the consensus that has emerged in the U.S. about the current state of the war. It’s not so much a blueprint for action as a recognition of reality.
“The level of violence is high and growing,” the report says. “There is great suffering, and the daily lives of many Iraqis show little or no improvement. Pessimism is pervasive.”
With the situation in Iraq deteriorating, and support for the war in the U.S. having all but collapsed, the only real question on the table is how long the U.S. is going to drag out its inevitable pullout of combat forces. And the inevitable moral question that is inextricably linked to that slowly evolving set of circumstances is how to justify the lives that will be lost between now and the final day of our departure.
There is something agonizingly tragic about soldiers dying in a war that has already been lost.
The scale of the debacle is breathtaking. According to the study group: “In some parts of Iraq — notably in Baghdad — sectarian cleansing is taking place. The United Nations estimates that 1.6 million are displaced within Iraq, and up to 1.8 million Iraqis have fled the country.”
[...]
The study group found that, among other things, the Iraqi Army units “lack leadership … lack equipment … lack personnel … [and] lack logistics and support.”
“Soldiers are given leave liberally and face no penalties for absence without leave,” the report said. “Unit readiness rates are low, often at 50 percent or less.”
The report went on: “They lack the ability to sustain their operations, the capability to transport supplies and troops, and the capacity to provide their own indirect fire support, close-air support, technical intelligence and medical evacuation.”
Other than that, they’re fine.
So what’s next? The Bush administration has lost all of its credibility on the war. What is needed now are leaders with the courage to insist, perhaps at the risk of their reputations and careers, that it is wrong to continue sending fresh bodies after those already lost, to continue asking young, healthy American troops to head into the combat zone, perhaps for their third or fourth tour, to fight in a war the public no longer supports.
What’s next is that good people work together at developing a solution.
As JK said about the Iraq Study Group:
Not one more American soldier should die because politicians in Iraq or in the United States are unwilling to face reality and change direction. We need to change course now. Today, the bipartisan Iraq Study Group issued an urgent call for a new direction in Iraq. Their report acknowledges the futility of the current policy. If the Administration will accept its recommendations, this report can provide core elements of the way forward.
16 Comments
New comments for this entry are closed.
It is heartbreaking to read about more and more deaths of our soldiers and Iraqi civilians.
How tragic that Bush seems in no hurry to commit to even a part of the ISG report’s recommendations in light of the ever growing violence and hopeless outlook.
What is so beyond tragic here is that we can sit here tonight and KNOW that more wasted efforts will ensue and more lives will be lost; even as we understand that it must end now.
Soldiers from the US need to start coming home, so that Iraqi soldiers, peacemakers in Iraq, reconciliators, supporters, and strong people of wisdom can begin the process of cleaning up the mess we have made.
Thank you, John Kerry, for continuing to speak out and to teach us all. I pray for better students in the weeks to come.
While many of us repeatedly post about Bush’s failings in the ISG, am I wrong to think that the Republican Leadership should be doing a little arm-twisting of their fearless leader?
Their guy is definitely out of control. And one quick way to get him back under control is to work with the Democrats in both the House and Senate.
In other words, why shouldn’t Trent Lott go up to him and say, “Sir. I’ve purchased a pair of bi-focals for you. Read the fine print in the report and you’ll see that the ISG is the proper approach. Actually Sir, I’ll give you John Kerry’s glasses and you’ll see the facts as clear as John Kerry does and you’ll discover that John Kerry knows what he’s doing. It’s time, Sir, that we acknowledge the leadership and diplomacy needed to improve the situation in Iraq. And John Kerry doesn’t have to be the only one wearing good eyeglasses. ” (Rather Westwingish, huh?)
He is venturing outside the Green Zone which is an incredibly dangerous undertaking. I can understand why he feels the need to take this trip, but I am very concerned about his safety. What a brave and courageous man he is. I will be praying for positive results from this trip and for his very safe return.
Posted by fedup | December 12, 2006 9:29 PM
That’s a heavy itinerary Senator Kerry has planned. Stay safe Senator, my prayers are with you!
Safe travels, Senator Kerry.
KarenDC:Thanks for your words above; they were perfect: “Thank you, John Kerry, for continuing to speak out and to teach us all. I pray for better students in the weeks to come.” Posted by karendc | December 12, 2006 9:21 PM
Best wishes to Senator Kerry on his trip.
While he’s away, it’s interesting that back home, an article defending him and another article on leaving Iraq are 2 of the 5 most viewed reader-submitted articles in the last 30 days on the website of South Dakota’s leading newspaper, the Argus Leader.
http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=COMMUNITYPUB0114
Posted by Grassroots Democrat Bruce | December 13, 2006 6:53 AM
Thanks for posting the link to that good letter, GDB
Stay Safe Senator Kerry, my prayers are with you…hoping peace will follow your travels, hoping leaders in the Middle East are better listeners then the fools in OUR America….Safe return home….God Be With You….BlueRose
One question?
Why isn’t the trip to Iraq and the mideast bi-partison? Are there no Republicans willing to share the responsibility for a real action instead of rhetoric?
This really gets to me.
I know that the ISG had members who finally went. I know the ISG interviewed John Kerry about his views. I really want an answer to my questions: Which Congressmen are supporting John Kerry’s trip? Does he have Democratic support and if so who? Does he have Republican support? If so who? I want to see the names of people who are willing to put party politics aside (on both sides of the aisle!).
But after 3 years of “Everything is coming up roses in Iraq” type rhetoric, and the stupid meme of “cut and run…” I’m just angry that the report dared suggest waiting until 2008 to pull troops out.
Another soldier in my county just died in Iraq. How many more soldiers in your county will die in Iraq before they stop the dying for a lie?
Also, I know I’m jumping around topics but I heard George Bush is receiving conflicting advise on what to do on Iraq. Could it be that George Bush is getting conflicting information about what to do in Iraq because he wants conflicting information about what to do in Iraq? (Call it my Duh moment) He’s selling his ‘plan’ like a used- car salesman waits for the perfect sucker to buy the heap of crap in his lot that has been sitting there rotting for 5 years.
Anyways, I’m worried about Senator Kerry going to Iraq but I know it’s the right thing to do.
Somehow, despite the media’s namecalling and the swiftboat lies from, well, liars, John Kerry always seems to do the right thing—the morally, ethically right thing—even if it’s not the most poltically expedient or the most personally safe thing to do.
I’ll keep Senator Kerry and the whole mideast in my prayers. I hope that he can help the world through the diplomacy he promised in 04. Clearly, diplomacy and integrity are things we’ve been missing in the last 6 years.
And as each day goes on with no plan from Bush and no accountability from this country, my heart just breaks for the soldiers and the families of the soldiers who suffer the most under a incompetent policy.
To Peacemom:
I agree with you that Senator Kerry is doing what is right and is going so that he can be as expert as possible to try to suggest solutions. He really is one of very few Senators offering real solutions.
Senator Dodd, who is also on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is also going. This is their real job as Senators - so it’s not a question of who supports anyone.
Kerry supporters have are receiving an email from John Kerry backing Al Gore’s efforts on Global Warming.
Here’s a picture Kerry supporters might enjoy while reading the email:
http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=753
Hey Ron, thanks for the head’s up! I’ve signed up to host a house party - I hope other folks who attend this event will share their impressions with the JK online community. This is such an important issue and I’m thrilled that the Senator and Al Gore are uniting to promote it.
I am going to change my schedule to attend one of the meet-ups this week. It is a good chance to learn more about this issue and perhaps meet some new friends.
In follow up to my previous comment, the Boston Globe picked up my link at Liberal Values. Going back to their story provides both more information on Kerry and Gore being together, along with a new picture. Both are noted in this post.