Here is the problem. Well, one of the problems.
Military leaders don’t like to lose. If you show them an enemy, they will seek to use the tools they have to defeat that enemy. It’s what they do. They will invade. They will project force. They will use guns and bombs. They will endorse a surge. They will argue for more time. No military leader wants to say, “we can’t win.”
And yet, the situation in Iraq isn’t one that our military can win. Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying they aren’t the best in the world. In so far as I know, they are. I’m not saying the troops aren’t willing. They seem to be throwing themselves in harm’s way with a heroism that is truly heartrending.
What I am saying is that the problem in Iraq isn’t a military problem. We’re using the wrong tool to try to solve the puzzle and all that is happening as a result is a lot of death.
The issue in Iraq is that Saddam, however cruel a despot he might have been, held together disparate forces that now have turned against one another. And don’t think this is all about religion either. There is plenty of political and/or “resource” based violence going on. The military, no matter how many we send over there, cannot force unreasonable people to come to a reasonable and peaceful compromise that will allow them to live together.
Especially not when they seem to be enjoying the fight.
So, Gen. Petraeus has a problem. He’s faced with having to use our Armed Forces to try to effect a win on a battlefield that is, largely, irrelevant to victory.
On top of that, Gen. Petraeus has been betrayed by his Commander in Chief who has elected to hide behind his military leaders rather than deal himself with the political consequences of an unjustified and unpopular war. A good commander knows that you can’t lead while using your troops as human shields. But Bush is doing exactly that. And, it appears, that to add insult to injury, he is also scripting what his human shield will say.
All of this means that the Republican mantra of “wait until September to see if the surge is working” will soon be “wait until the end of Bush’s term to see if the surge ‘continues’ to improve the situation.”
And then, of course, the whole problem (and the ensuing mess) will be dropped into Bush’s successor’s lap.
Mr. President, have you at long last no shame?
Posted by adistius 