Same Old Shit

Check out this story from USA Today about General George Casey's statement at his news conference today that Iraqi security forces should be able to take over in 12 to 18 months.

Come on! How many times have we heard that? I believe they previously said that they should be fully up and operational as of, well, right about now.

We have been in Iraq for nearly 5 years. In that amount of time, we had fought and won WWII and Europe was beginning to re-build. The Iraqi's are not going to stand up until we and the billions of dollars we are pouring into their country and the politician's and contractor's pockets are GONE!

Then, they will tear themselves apart first and their blood will flood their streets. Or not. It's possible that they might just get their shit together once they realize they have no other option and Uncle Sam isn't there to keep picking up the pieces. Mostly, pieces of our dead and wounded soldiers.

Still, we did get rid of their dictator and have given them more than enough time to get some type of government established, imperfect or not. That is about the sum total of positive results we have made. Everything else has been a disaster.

Look, I'm really sorry for the Iraqi's. We never should have gone in there. It was a mistake from day one. What do you do when you make a mistake? You admit it, you apologize, and you try to make amends.

Bush should admit it, he should apologize. We have to get out and give it back to them to do as they choose. Everyone gets the government it deserves.

We should make amends by allowing immigration of very carefully screened Iraqi's, ask Eqypt, Syria, Iran, Jordan, etc. to allow immigration and allocate each family $3,000 per family member for relocation expenses. That's a hell of a lot more than Katrina victims got and it would be a hell of a lot cheaper than what we are doing now. Then, make it clear to the Iraqi government that once they have established a stable state that is not an avowed enemy of the U.S., we will offer tax incentives to companies willing to make substantial investments in the re-development of the country.

Then, we shake the dust off our heels and deal with whatever happens next. Because, when you make a mistake, you deal with the consequences.