As the Baker Recommendations were hitting the news cycle, another ten of our fine young fighting men and women were killed in Iraq today...I've read the report, and here are my initial findings on it.
Wednesday, December 6, 2006 Baker Recommendations are Stay The Course On Steroids
Stay The Course on Steroids
The Baker Recommendations that were released today are, simply put, disappointing, and amount to "Stay The Course" on steroids masquerading as a change in direction. Having gone through the entire document, there is nothing truly new, other than perhaps Baker's suggestion of a far more robust approach to diplomatic efforts in moving forward to some future date solution of the problems in Iraq, all while American Troops continue to die. What has been presented as a new approach requires more American cost in lives and money, as well as additional sacrifices for us as a nation. The report uses fear to encourage Americans to come together in support of a serious and long term commitment to Iraq, attempts to guilt us into being supportive of a long term troop commitment of perhaps decades in duration.
Early on in the report, we are WARNED about the costs of leaving Iraq, making a graceful retreat, or as it was called before the election, "Cut and Run". The four primary warnings given to us are:
1. Iraq would slide rapidly into chaos, triggering collapse of the government and a humanitarian catastrophe. One could successfully argue that we have already reached this dark abyss, and despite the report’s failure to use the word Civil War, Iraq is in one.
2. Neighboring countries could intervene (obvious hint here is Iran and Syria), and Sunni-Shia clashes could spread. Again, news reports suggest neighboring countries have already intervened, or already supporting various warring factions from al-Sadr’s militia troops (said to be over 60,000) to various insurgent groups.
3. Al Qaeda could win a propaganda victory and expand its base of operations...again, still trying to convince us that Iraq is central to the war on terror. This is also fate accompli as was admitted in a report released earlier this year from the Pentagon.
4. Global standing of United States could be diminished (as if it could get worse) and Americans could become more polarized.
After admitting that most Americans no longer support the Iraq war (63 percent), the report summits it's key suggestion...DIPLOMACY coupled with STAY THE COURSE. Even the diplomatic efforts suggested in this report could see AMERICAN CITIZENS in effect drafted to serve America in Iraq under what is described as directed assignments...that's right, Americans conscripted into diplomatic service in an unsecured war zone. While this massive effort at diplomacy is undertaken, some of our longest serving military members could be put at even greater risk by being embedded with a poorly trained and disloyal group of Iraqi soldiers...in short, our soldiers being forced to serve with, and fight in the floundering Iraqi military, serve with troops that have been known to lay down their weapons and run. Is this what you envisioned for your son, daughter, Mother or Father who is serving in our United States Military…being forced to embed themselves with someone almost our enemy?
At first blush, a robust diplomatic approach has its merits...however, as you read deeper into the document, you realize said efforts see the only road to success a full resolution of ALL PROBLEMS IN THE MIDDLE EAST, including the two state solution between Israel and the Palestinians. Factor in the need to bring both Iran and Syria into the fold, as well as solving the issue of an independent Kurdistan, and you have the making for a diplomatic effort that could take years if not decades to bring to any kind of successful resolution. Without other world parties coming onboard in significant ways, Iraq is and will continue to be a quagmire with our troops being bogged down in the ravages of war, cannon fodder for insurgents and victims of on going terrorists attacks.
Even if these efforts are successful, even if we can begin drawing down our troops in Iraq at some future date two-ten years out, our troops do not necessarily get to return home, as the Baker Recommendations would see us commit more political, economic and military support for Afghanistan...in short, our troops would merely be redeployed from one war zone into another.
The Baker report admits some startling realities, makes it absolutely clear that Americans are not finished with our sacrifices even if we bring our troops home tomorrow. It is admitted that total final costs to the American people for this war (if ended today) could exceed two trillion dollars as we restore our forces to full combat capability, restore and replace equipment, and set aside funds to cover the long term care costs of 20,000 plus injured troops, the majority of which have been seriously maimed. Moving forward as is recommended by the Baker Report, making a firm commitment to stay in Iraq and committing to implementation of a Robust Diplomatic effort will see that price in both dollars and lost lives continue to grow.
One admission in the report begs the question, "Can we continue with this Stay The Course on Steroids recommendation without bringing back the draft, forcing Americans into military service in a war most of us do not support. On one hand, the Baker Report states a simple fact that they agree with the goal of US policy in Iraq, as stated by the President: an Iraq that can "govern itself, sustain itself, and defend itself." (This is STAY THE COURSE.) On the other hand, the report admits that the Pentagon cannot meet its next Rotation of troops without breaking its contractual obligations to members of our armed forces, specifically the National Guard. How do you reconcile these two realities without serious discussion of bringing back the draft....especially since the report further admits that 1) Our troops are overly strained and in some cases at the breaking point, and 2) Currently we do not have adequate troops to deploy should another major need arise elsewhere in the world.
More disturbing, is Recommendation 22...this recommendation dances around the sticky wicket of permanent bases in Iraq with a disturbing slight of hand magic trick to re-label what would be a permanent military base and presence by calling them temporary bases (yes, plural) built at the request of the Iraqi government. As most of us know, such TEMPORARY bases come with 99 years leases with an option for another 99 which opens up the ugly specter of our troops being committed to the desert sands for almost 200 years.
For how many years now have we listened to Bush telling us, "As Iraqi troops stand up, our troops will stand down?" That slogan has been replaced with a revised version, wherein our troops would stand down as Iraqi's reach certain milestones, and further, our troops, our money our sacrifices would remain strong as long as these milestones were being worked towards and attained.
Something NOT being discussed in the press is Recommendation 31...so far, we have lost almost 3,000 American troops, seen over 20,000 more of our soldiers seriously wounded and maimed. Baker's recommendations ask us to embrace leaving our troops in harms way, embrace the sacrifice of more young men and women coming home in flag draped coffins, while at the same time calling on the Iraqi government to push through and offer a very GENEROUS Amnesty....that's right, the very insurgents and terrorists killing our troops, blowing them up with IED's will be granted a full and complete AMNESTY...we are being asked to shed more of our blood, watch the death toll rise while Diplomats work out a full and complete amnesty for the murderers, for terrorists. These Amnesties are "incentives" aimed at encouraging various parties to join the process, become a part of finding a diplomatic solution for Iraq, and the region.
Make no mistake here, the Baker report is STAY THE COURSE on STEROIDS...the report specifically says, "We also rejected the immediate withdrawal of our troops, because we believe that so much is at stake."
Further, as our benefits are cut here at home, our citizens are denied basic health coverage, and financial assistance to attend college is gutted, the report suggests upping financial help for the Iraq government to $5 Billion a year. While our government out sources our jobs, lets illegals come into America to steal other jobs, $5 Billion of our taxes will be used for job creation in Iraq for an undetermined number of years.
We the American public have been handed a worthless document that fails to address our demands. We are being asked to make more and more sacrifices, agree to support an open ended stay in Iraq. The choice is ours, and the choice is simple. If we support the Baker Report and its recommendations, we support open ended funding of the war, and a seriously escalating Pentagon Budget as our own social services budget here at home declines, as Americans lose even more of what little they have. Or, we reject the report and its recommendations, and demand that our Congress and Senate exercise the only two viable options we have simultaneously. A) We simply unfund the war effort, leaving the Pentagon with no choice but to bring our troops home, and B) begin the process of impeaching George W. Bush.
The Baker Recommendations
Stay The Course on Steroids
The Baker Recommendations that were released today are, simply put, disappointing, and amount to "Stay The Course" on steroids masquerading as a change in direction. Having gone through the entire document, there is nothing truly new, other than perhaps Baker's suggestion of a far more robust approach to diplomatic efforts in moving forward to some future date solution of the problems in Iraq, all while American Troops continue to die. What has been presented as a new approach requires more American cost in lives and money, as well as additional sacrifices for us as a nation. The report uses fear to encourage Americans to come together in support of a serious and long term commitment to Iraq, attempts to guilt us into being supportive of a long term troop commitment of perhaps decades in duration.
Early on in the report, we are WARNED about the costs of leaving Iraq, making a graceful retreat, or as it was called before the election, "Cut and Run". The four primary warnings given to us are:
1. Iraq would slide rapidly into chaos, triggering collapse of the government and a humanitarian catastrophe. One could successfully argue that we have already reached this dark abyss, and despite the report’s failure to use the word Civil War, Iraq is in one.
2. Neighboring countries could intervene (obvious hint here is Iran and Syria), and Sunni-Shia clashes could spread. Again, news reports suggest neighboring countries have already intervened, or already supporting various warring factions from al-Sadr’s militia troops (said to be over 60,000) to various insurgent groups.
3. Al Qaeda could win a propaganda victory and expand its base of operations...again, still trying to convince us that Iraq is central to the war on terror. This is also fate accompli as was admitted in a report released earlier this year from the Pentagon.
4. Global standing of United States could be diminished (as if it could get worse) and Americans could become more polarized.
After admitting that most Americans no longer support the Iraq war (63 percent), the report summits it's key suggestion...DIPLOMACY coupled with STAY THE COURSE. Even the diplomatic efforts suggested in this report could see AMERICAN CITIZENS in effect drafted to serve America in Iraq under what is described as directed assignments...that's right, Americans conscripted into diplomatic service in an unsecured war zone. While this massive effort at diplomacy is undertaken, some of our longest serving military members could be put at even greater risk by being embedded with a poorly trained and disloyal group of Iraqi soldiers...in short, our soldiers being forced to serve with, and fight in the floundering Iraqi military, serve with troops that have been known to lay down their weapons and run. Is this what you envisioned for your son, daughter, Mother or Father who is serving in our United States Military…being forced to embed themselves with someone almost our enemy?
At first blush, a robust diplomatic approach has its merits...however, as you read deeper into the document, you realize said efforts see the only road to success a full resolution of ALL PROBLEMS IN THE MIDDLE EAST, including the two state solution between Israel and the Palestinians. Factor in the need to bring both Iran and Syria into the fold, as well as solving the issue of an independent Kurdistan, and you have the making for a diplomatic effort that could take years if not decades to bring to any kind of successful resolution. Without other world parties coming onboard in significant ways, Iraq is and will continue to be a quagmire with our troops being bogged down in the ravages of war, cannon fodder for insurgents and victims of on going terrorists attacks.
Even if these efforts are successful, even if we can begin drawing down our troops in Iraq at some future date two-ten years out, our troops do not necessarily get to return home, as the Baker Recommendations would see us commit more political, economic and military support for Afghanistan...in short, our troops would merely be redeployed from one war zone into another.
The Baker report admits some startling realities, makes it absolutely clear that Americans are not finished with our sacrifices even if we bring our troops home tomorrow. It is admitted that total final costs to the American people for this war (if ended today) could exceed two trillion dollars as we restore our forces to full combat capability, restore and replace equipment, and set aside funds to cover the long term care costs of 20,000 plus injured troops, the majority of which have been seriously maimed. Moving forward as is recommended by the Baker Report, making a firm commitment to stay in Iraq and committing to implementation of a Robust Diplomatic effort will see that price in both dollars and lost lives continue to grow.
One admission in the report begs the question, "Can we continue with this Stay The Course on Steroids recommendation without bringing back the draft, forcing Americans into military service in a war most of us do not support. On one hand, the Baker Report states a simple fact that they agree with the goal of US policy in Iraq, as stated by the President: an Iraq that can "govern itself, sustain itself, and defend itself." (This is STAY THE COURSE.) On the other hand, the report admits that the Pentagon cannot meet its next Rotation of troops without breaking its contractual obligations to members of our armed forces, specifically the National Guard. How do you reconcile these two realities without serious discussion of bringing back the draft....especially since the report further admits that 1) Our troops are overly strained and in some cases at the breaking point, and 2) Currently we do not have adequate troops to deploy should another major need arise elsewhere in the world.
More disturbing, is Recommendation 22...this recommendation dances around the sticky wicket of permanent bases in Iraq with a disturbing slight of hand magic trick to re-label what would be a permanent military base and presence by calling them temporary bases (yes, plural) built at the request of the Iraqi government. As most of us know, such TEMPORARY bases come with 99 years leases with an option for another 99 which opens up the ugly specter of our troops being committed to the desert sands for almost 200 years.
For how many years now have we listened to Bush telling us, "As Iraqi troops stand up, our troops will stand down?" That slogan has been replaced with a revised version, wherein our troops would stand down as Iraqi's reach certain milestones, and further, our troops, our money our sacrifices would remain strong as long as these milestones were being worked towards and attained.
Something NOT being discussed in the press is Recommendation 31...so far, we have lost almost 3,000 American troops, seen over 20,000 more of our soldiers seriously wounded and maimed. Baker's recommendations ask us to embrace leaving our troops in harms way, embrace the sacrifice of more young men and women coming home in flag draped coffins, while at the same time calling on the Iraqi government to push through and offer a very GENEROUS Amnesty....that's right, the very insurgents and terrorists killing our troops, blowing them up with IED's will be granted a full and complete AMNESTY...we are being asked to shed more of our blood, watch the death toll rise while Diplomats work out a full and complete amnesty for the murderers, for terrorists. These Amnesties are "incentives" aimed at encouraging various parties to join the process, become a part of finding a diplomatic solution for Iraq, and the region.
Make no mistake here, the Baker report is STAY THE COURSE on STEROIDS...the report specifically says, "We also rejected the immediate withdrawal of our troops, because we believe that so much is at stake."
Further, as our benefits are cut here at home, our citizens are denied basic health coverage, and financial assistance to attend college is gutted, the report suggests upping financial help for the Iraq government to $5 Billion a year. While our government out sources our jobs, lets illegals come into America to steal other jobs, $5 Billion of our taxes will be used for job creation in Iraq for an undetermined number of years.
We the American public have been handed a worthless document that fails to address our demands. We are being asked to make more and more sacrifices, agree to support an open ended stay in Iraq. The choice is ours, and the choice is simple. If we support the Baker Report and its recommendations, we support open ended funding of the war, and a seriously escalating Pentagon Budget as our own social services budget here at home declines, as Americans lose even more of what little they have. Or, we reject the report and its recommendations, and demand that our Congress and Senate exercise the only two viable options we have simultaneously. A) We simply unfund the war effort, leaving the Pentagon with no choice but to bring our troops home, and B) begin the process of impeaching George W. Bush.
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Comments: 7
I never supported this war but I don't htink we can jus pack up and leave immediately. We need to at leat stabilize the region, help them form a governement. and then let them run their own country.
Did you also miss the section about BASES, as in plural in the report? How about the part where the Pentagon is about to BREAK ITS AGREEMENTS with National Guard Reserves, as that is the only way they will have enough troops on hand for the next rotation of troops?
Suppose you also agree with our government being allowed to ORDER DIPLOMATS and STAFF into a war zone?
I could go on, but might suggest you give the report a closer look...it basically calls for a LONG TERM COMMITTMENT of our troops in Iraq, and further admits that our Army as a result of the Iraq War is precariously close to a breaking point.
i think it's a good thing that they at the very least admit it's a mess. i see what you're saying. i really do. maybe i'm naive but i do have some hope. i don't think anybody wants to lose and i don't think we can just abandon iraq. i just think the report, along with robert gates, is a sign of the end of the propagana (not a continuance of it.) for once, i don't feel like i'm being completely lied to.
If as the report states, our Army is close to breaking, and woefully understaffed, then how can we STAY IN IRAQ without the draft? Are you ready to die for Iraq?