Basra Foretells Consequence of Early Troop Withdrawal from Iraq

Clashes between Iraqi forces and militants loyal to Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr continue in Basra as security in the in southern city deteriorates. Wolf Blitzer asked a weary Michael Ware, CNN war correspondent in Iraq, about it on the Situation Room: 

WOLF BLITZER: It looks like the situation is deteriorating, especially in Basra…….what is going on?

MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, what’s going on is the future of Iraq without U.S. forces, welcome to it. You think Lebanon in the ’80s was bad? Many people say that the future of Iraq with a timetable for withdrawal will be exactly what you’re seeing now. We’re seeing Iranian backed Shia faction fighting Iranian backed Shia faction.

But put it this way, Wolf, Americans are still in South Korea.

Now if you think American troops can withdraw next year, then someone is being delusional.

Now, the Brits in the south of Iraq who technically once owned Basra have now retreated to the air base in that city. They’re unable to project combat power or influence. So you’re seeing the natural course of events.

Did Michael Ware seem either exhausted or somewhat inebriated?  Whichever the case, kudos to him for his years of commitment in reporting events on the ground in Iraq. 

Meanwhile, Pres. Bush calls it a defining moment for Iraq:

“I would say this is a defining moment in the history of a free Iraq, This is a test and a moment for the Iraqi government which strongly has supported Prime Minister Maliki’s actions,” Bush said.

“It is an interesting moment for the people of Iraq because in order for this democracy to survive they must have confidence in their government’s ability to protect them and to be even-handed.”

As hard as it is to believe, Bush is right. It is a defining moment and the fact that Shiite forces were sent by a Shiite Prime Minister to fight Shiite militias are encouraging signs. This is less about a “civil war” or sectarianism than it is about a proxy war between Iraq and the U.S. against Iran. Purely Iraqi renegade militias would be a far easier problem to solve than one that involves Iran’s fingerprints all over them. 

It’s also good to see Iraqi forces taking on combat.  This is what we want to see with U.S. forces in the back for support.

Right or wrong, it’s perturbing that the Brits clearly too withdrew early. This is what happens when politics trumps foreign policy.  Unfortunately, this level of support from the Brits is what we’ve become accustomed to and points to the reason the U.S. ends up holding the bag in Iraq and in other international issues: we’re the only ones with the fortitude, character and vision to carry out missions to their conclusions.   

Halfway through the counterinsurgency, we will probably see a few more uprisings. 

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Comments

[twolaneflash]

It's a selfish thought, even considering the combat he's been through for 15 months, but I'm glad my son caught a bird to Kuwait yesterday. I'm deeply saddened by the thought of the load this post-surge troop redeployment puts on the soldiers, and their families, who remain in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere American interests and freedom are at risk. I promise my prayers for them will be more fervent. Perhaps my great grandchildren will be able to read and discuss The New Testament, and the salvation of Jesus, freely, under a date palm in the Arab desert, because of the seeds planted and fertized with blood by this generation of Patriots. Mine will be home Thursday, and he will receive a hero's welcome. May God raise up such men of Iraq and Afghanistan, to put their houses in God's order.

[twolaneflash]

Christmas in April

Christmas is coming!
Presents are wrapped!
December till April,
Santa has napped.

The toddy is hot,
So is the weather.
To come twice a year,
Is really quite clever.

Soldiers come Home,
Where Time has not moved.
And Christmas awaits,
With Sugar Plums, too.

The Bird's in the air,
Where Santa can't go,
But that's soon to change,
Or Freedom won't grow.

They've given Their all,
This Brave Warrior Band,
For many long months,
In a mean hostile Land.

So what should we do,
But put on a Christmas!
Joyful, and Merry,
As Christmases past!

They missed the last One,
The One that WE had,
But Them being gone,
Made all of US sad.

The Tree still is standing,
Upon the front porch,
Draped all in yellow,
Flags, and a torch.

Its nearest-most Neighbor,
The Flag we adore,
Is still flying Freely,
There by the front door.

Whatever Your Journey,
Wherever Your Path,
Your loved ones are waiting,
For Your Christmas pass.

This year it's in April,
And last year, I forget,
We all will just hold it,
On the days that You get.

Our prayers for Your safety,
Have mostly been Blessed,
We’ll pray for The Fallen,
Held tight to Your breast.

We’ll show our respect,
For Sacrifice made,
A debt to Their family,
That cannot be paid.

The hours do dwindle
And soon You'll arrive
In a big silver sleigh,
Right out of the sky.

Hurry I must,
To rest my old head.
It won’t be too long,
You’ll sleep in Your bed.

Just give this tired Dad
This moment to say,
I love You, my Son,
Till the end of my Day.

[Gawfer]

"Did Michael Ware seem either exhausted or somewhat inebriated?"

My money's on a couple of good bottles of wine. Not that he doesn't deserve a little self indulgence.

But he makes a good point that gets lost on the left every time:

We have never left South Korea.

[mudkitty]

Five years later? It depends on what you mean by "early" withdrawal from the cakewalk where we, as true Americans, were told we would be greeted as liberators by dancing in the streets, and flowers strewn at our feet.

[Gawfer]

"...where we, as true Americans, were told we would be greeted as liberators by dancing in the streets, and flowers strewn at our feet."

When? Where? I remember in 2003 President Bush clearly stated that this fight will be a long and arduous fight against an ideology that seeks to destroy western civilization.

The problem is that liberals and folks who have not experienced war have these preconceived notions based on Hollywood movies of our troops marching into Paris or Rome with citizens throwing flowers at their feet and young beautiful virgins running up and expressing themselves with kisses and embracing their liberators. These naive individuals consider that the norm, and if it doesn’t occur, then they deduce ‘we must have done something wrong’.

Well, welcome to reality. There are towns in Iraq where this type of greeting has happened; the internet is strewn with photos depicting soldiers and marines playing football with children and acting as human shields during firefights, but in reality, the process of cleaning up a country that has suffered under an oppressive regime is a difficult, dirty task that requires diligence and tenacity, but in the end will produce a better, safer life for those who have endured. In the mean time however, it is still dangerous work indeed.