A colleague brought my attention to this WashPost piece on our new commander in Iraq, Gen. David H.
Petraeus. What was particularly interesting about it was the way he recommended it to me: This colleague soured on the Iraq War long ago, but he said this guy actually offers him some hope for the first time in a while.
My eyebrows went up at that, so I read the piece as soon as I could. Even those of us who fully believe in the importance of our Iraq mission could use a little hope now and then.
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Gen Patreus (PhD, even!) wrote an interesting article in early 2006 (http://www.army.mil/professionalwriting/volumes/volume4/april_2006/4_06_2_pf.html). He expressed 14 observations from his Iraqi experience that he thought were necessary for success in this war. They are clearly directed toward winning the peace. Forgive such a long copying, but they are worth reading:
“Observations from Soldiering in Iraq
1.”Do not try to do too much with your own hands.”
2. Act quickly, because every Army of liberation has a half-life.
3. Money is ammunition.
4. Increasing the number of stakeholders is critical to success.
5. Analyze “costs and benefits” before each operation.
6. Intelligence is the key to success.
7. Everyone must do nation-building.
8. Help build institutions, not just units.
9. Cultural awareness is a force multiplier.
10. Success in a counterinsurgency requires more than just military operations.
11. Ultimate success depends on local leaders.
12. Remember the strategic corporals and strategic lieutenants.
13. There is no substitute for flexible, adaptable leaders.
14. A leader’s most important task is to set the right tone.”
Sounds like he is capable of thinking on his own. I do not and have never believed in the reasons we were served for start of the Iraqi war, but I do agree that if we are going to declare war on someone, invade them, and crush their government, the lesson of World War I is that we shouldn’t then proceed to abandon them to their own devices. If we do, we deserve it when then turn on us in a few years. (I guess in a left-handed way I agree with Brad about the importance of this “mission” – it is desperately important we don’t screw it up more than we have.) I hope this thinking general is allowed to work without too much armchair quarterbacking (from the executive or legislative!).
Absolutely, Uncle Elmer.
You know, I’ve always been able to understand people opposing our invasion in 2003. As I wrote at the time, that was a profound line that our nation crossed by doing that. I was for it, and I’m pretty sure I would be again given the same circumstances and knowledge we had then.
I have MUCH more trouble understanding the idea of quitting now that we are there. The cost, for decades to come, would be horrific. Maybe the next Thomas Friedman column, or the one after that, will help me grasp it. He’s one of the few people out there who supported the war for all the right reasons, but has concluded we must get out. And I respect his thinking enormously.
If any commander on the ground can improve the situation, I think it might be Gen. Petraeus. But NO ONE should expect everything to be hunky-dory in Iraq any time within the next few years, even if we do everything right. This was ALWAYS going to take longer than this, and we’ve set ourselves back unnecessarily with one bad call after another over the last three years.
Gen. Petraeus’ appointment looks like a very GOOD call, and that’s what I was trying to point out here. Thanks for your response.
Uncle Elmer, thanks for that input. You nailed it.
McCain also nailed it last night. He said if we would withdraw and come home, the terrorists will follow our troops home. Says it all.
WAIST DEEP IN THE BIG MUDDY
by Pete Seeger
It was back in nineteen forty-two,
I was a member of a good platoon.
We were on maneuvers in-a Loozianna,
One night by the light of the moon.
The captain told us to ford a river,
That’s how it all begun.
We were — knee deep in the Big Muddy,
But the big fool said to push on.
The Sergeant said, “Sir, are you sure,
This is the best way back to the base?”
“Sergeant, go on! I forded this river
‘Bout a mile above this place.
It’ll be a little soggy but just keep slogging.
We’ll soon be on dry ground.”
We were — waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool said to push on.
The Sergeant said, “Sir, with all this equipment
No man will be able to swim.”
“Sergeant, don’t be a Nervous Nellie,”
The Captain said to him.
“All we need is a little determination;
Men, follow me, I’ll lead on.”
We were — neck deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool said to push on.
All at once, the moon clouded over,
We heard a gurgling cry.
A few seconds later, the captain’s helmet
Was all that floated by.
The Sergeant said, “Turn around men!
I’m in charge from now on.”
And we just made it out of the Big Muddy
With the captain dead and gone.
We stripped and dived and found his body
Stuck in the old quicksand.
I guess he didn’t know that the water was deeper
Than the place he’d once before been.
Another stream had joined the Big Muddy
‘Bout a half mile from where we’d gone.
We were lucky to escape from the Big Muddy
When the big fool said to push on.
Well, I’m not going to point any moral;
I’ll leave that for yourself
Maybe you’re still walking, you’re still talking
You’d like to keep your health.
But every time I read the papers
That old feeling comes on;
We’re — waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.
Waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.
Waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.
Waist deep! Neck deep! Soon even a
Tall man’ll be over his head, we’re
Waist deep in the Big Muddy!
And the big fool says to push on
Wow, McCain must have gulped an entire pitcher of purple kool-aid to be making statements like that.
Obviously, he’s sold his soul for the presidency and is so unimaginative that he can’t make up a new narrative.
First he kisses the evangelicals butts and now he’s spewing stale neo-con BS. What’s next? Will he push-poll some race-baiting innuendo during the SC primary?
If we lose the WOT, these lyrics will apply to America someday.
Artist: The Kinks Lyrics
Song: Living On A Thin Line Lyrics
All the stories have been told
Of kings and days of old,
But there’s no England now.
All the wars that were won and lost
Somehow don’t seem to matter very much anymore.
All the lies we were told,
All the lies of the people running round,
They’re castles have burned.
Now I see change,
But inside we’re the same as we ever were.
Living on a thin line,
Tell me now, what are we supposed to do?
Living on a thin line,
Tell me now, what are we supposed to do?
Living on a thin line,
Living this way, each day is a dream.
What am I, what are we supposed to do?
Living on a thin line,
Tell me now, what are we supposed to do?
Now another century nearly gone,
What are we gonna leave for the young?
What we couldn’t do, what we wouldn’t do,
It’s a crime, but does it matter?
Does it matter much, does it matter much to you?
Does it ever really matter?
Yes, it really, really matters.
Living on a thin line,
Tell me now, what are we supposed to do?
Living on a thin line,
Tell me now, what are we supposed to do?
Now another leader says
Break their hearts and break some heads.
Is there nothing we can say or do?
Blame the future on the past,
Always lost in blood and guts.
And when they’re gone, it’s me and you.
Living on a thin line,
Tell me now, what are we supposed to do?
Living on a thin line,
Tell me now, what are we supposed to do?
Living on a thin line.
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