RSS 2.0
The Surge is Working But We Must Remain Committed in Iraq
Fred Kagan, Gen. Jack Keane, and Michael O’Hanlon write in today’s WaPo that we must remain committed in Iraq:
. . . The number of American forces in Iraq matters. Although the change of U.S. strategy announced last January and the change in attitude among Sunni Arabs were critical to the successes achieved in 2007, the addition of five Army combat brigades and three Marine battalions was also critical. Petraeus and Gen. Ray Odierno know the strains the surge has placed on the military and believe that we can reduce our forces to pre-surge levels by this summer without compromising our gains. Considering the big steps taken by Iraqi security forces over the past year, as well as the tremendous damage our forces and Iraqi forces, together with the Iraqi people, have done to al-Qaeda in Iraq, the Sunni Baathist insurgency, Iranian-backed special groups and the fighting elements of the Jaish al-Mahdi, this belief is probably justified. But we cannot be sure.
Al-Qaeda in Iraq is working hard to regroup, and our soldiers are fighting hard to prevent that. Activities of Iranian-backed special groups continue to be worrisome. And much remains to be done politically at the local and national levels to secure the gains we have made.
Some in Washington are already calling for a commitment to additional reductions, resulting in force levels below pre-surge levels, even before we have finished the current drawdown. Such calls are unwise. America has made this mistake in Iraq before — withdrawing too soon, attempting to hand security responsibilities over to Iraqi forces unable to accept them, and assuming that the best-case scenarios will play out. We must not make that mistake again.
It is inappropriate to try to evaluate the possibility of reductions beyond pre-surge levels before we have had time to examine the situation after the completion of that drawdown. Therefore, Congress, the president and the American people should not expect Petraeus to report in March on the feasibility of still further reductions but, rather, on the sustainability of the reductions already in progress.
The strain on the U.S. military is great, and we are all concerned. But sustaining 15 brigades in Iraq for six more months or another year will not break the force. Reducing forces in Iraq too rapidly, however, even by one or two brigades, might seriously jeopardize the tenuous success we are seeing. We should not take that risk.
H.C. Lawrence Smith
January 26th, 2008 at 7:11 am
Don’t Short Circuit the Surge -
Sitting here in Iraq, in a not-for-profit, Non-USG org, the answer to the question identified with the barely reconizable carcass of a horse in Washington, is OBVIOUS. One sees it in the airport, in the workplace with attitudes of Iraqi workers, in the increase of businesses along the thoroughfares, and in the increased numbers of well turned out Iraqi soldiers. Last week an Iraqi, who I did not know, asked my nationality. “Ameriki” I replied. “George Bush Good” George Bush Good” he replied shaking my hand. He was a Kurd, a young child in the An Fal. He knows why we are here, as much as the young iraqi Policeman who complemented me on my crossed flags lapel pin. I am “capacity building” in Iraq. Who will do the same in Washington?
Jeff
January 28th, 2008 at 12:38 am
Thank you, H.C. for your comment and your commitment to freedom. God bless and stay safe.
Jeff
Red State Rascals