Mission Accomplished?

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Four years and counting....

A look at the Iraq war timeline gives a sense of perspective on this.... place it side-by-side with the Vietnam war time line and one gets a sobering perspective.

We won't be leaving Iraq any time soon:

First, the Democrats don't want to own this war. If they "succeed" in forcing a troop withdrawal in the next year or so, they risk being blamed for what happens thereafter... just in time for the November 2008 elections.

Second, the Democrats understand the concept of a power vacuum. They understand that Iran is poised to fill a vacuum in Iraq. You don't hear Democrats talking about removing the "enduring" bases from Iraq. When they secure the White House, US troops will remain in Iraq for a long time.

It's worth noting that former CIA analyst and briefer Ray McGovern thinks I'm wrong on this (who are you going to listen to, me or a CIA analyst with 26 years of experience?). On the April 23, 2007 Flashpoints radio program, McGovern said not to worry about "enduring" US military bases.

We may be able to have permanent military bases for a year or two, it's not going to be possible to keep them. It's just not possible in this day and age to invade an occupy a country the size of Iraq with 140,000, or if you put in 500,000 it still wouldn't work.

He cites 1.3 billion "ticked off" Muslims, porous boarders, and General Petraus's book on counter insurgency.

Finally, it must be said that there's the public mission, and the covert mission. Many speculate that the unstated mission in Iraq accepts, possibly fosters, the chaos. Why? "I'm a war President." Attorney General Gonzoles says a war president has additional executive powers. If peace broke out in Iraq in 2004, how would the US justify continued dominance of decisions in Iraq? (yea, it's a sovereign state). "Mission Accomplished" might better be measured by the pending petroleum law and other corporate-friendly laws instituted in Iraq.
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