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01/10/2008

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Mojo

This isn’t about letting the Iraqis determine their future; it’s about moving the goalposts. The benchmark time lines were shattered and now they’re staring at failure of even the extensions unilaterally granted by the White House.
For the most part, the established goals aren’t some American construct we imposed (except a couple related to military organization which have already been met). The outstanding benchmarks are simply a list of some of the things which are indispensable to the very existence of an independent Iraqi state. What “Iraqi” alternative could there be to an agreement on control of oil and distribution of the revenue? How could Iraq become a full state without establishing at least a semblance of a monopoly on use of force (limiting the militias, building a legitimate police force and army, and establishing security at least in their own capital)? How long will the Kurds let the status of Kirkuk remain in limbo? Is even-handed enforcement of laws somehow now just a US interest and irrelevant to the insurgency?

Mojo

This isn’t about letting the Iraqis determine their future; it’s about moving the goalposts. The benchmark timelines were shattered and now they’re staring at failure of even the extensions unilaterally granted by the White House.
For the most part, the established goals aren’t some American construct we imposed (except a couple related to military organization which have already been met). The outstanding benchmarks are simply a list of some of the things which are indispensable to the very existence of an independent Iraqi state. What “Iraqi” alternative could there be to an agreement on control of oil and distribution of the revenue? How could Iraq become a full state without establishing at least a semblance of a monopoly on use of force (limiting the militias, building a legitimate police force and army, and establishing security at least in their own capital)? How long will the Kurds let the status of Kirkuk remain in limbo? Is even-handed enforcement of laws somehow now just a US interest and irrelevant to the insurgency?

Mojo

Sorry for the double post. I guess I don't have the hang of the new procedures yet.

Barry

"Sadly, the process of sectarian cleansing that has occurred does make it easier for local groups to reach consensus, since people will not be as fearful that adherents of some other branch of Islam were getting more than they deserved out of the deal."

I disagree. Ethnic cleansing has very likely spilled a *lot* of fresh blood, leading to people who actively hate and fear each other, with very good reason. When you sit down with people who have, are and will continue to kill your people, it's not a government.

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