Here is some good stuff for the Bushicost deniers to be in denial about

[Xavier_Onassis]

It would be nice if Iraq stayed one country. It would be wonderful if it were a democratic country. I am merely saying that there is nothing that the US can do with its Army and/or Marines that will cause either of these things to happen.

The Buddhists say, "If you want to know what will happen to you tomorrow, look at your actions yesterday and your situation today: your past actions will likely determine your future."

Iraq has been a country for some 6000 years. Elections are not the way that they have chosen leaders. Elections are not the way the country has been held together for at least 5997 of those years.

There will be a political solution. A military solution can only kill people, the future being determined by whom is killed and how many. And, in Iraq, how pissed off the survivors are.

[Amianthus]

Iraq has been a country for some 6000 years.

You keep on saying this, even though it's not true. The land known as Iraq has been part of the lands of the Persians, Macedonians, Turks, Parthias, Babylonians, Assyrians, etc, during this period.

Elections are not the way that they have chosen leaders.

Since history decides what will come next in a country, I guess the US and France are still hereditary monarchies, huh? After all, I guess people just can't change the way they're governed?

[BT]

I am merely saying that there is nothing that the US can do with its Army and/or Marines that will cause either of these things to happen.

Sure there is.

They can help stabalize the country until such time as the decisions are made by a government strong enough to stand by them.

And last i heard that was what they were doing.

[Xavier_Onassis]

They can help stabalize the country until such time as the decisions are made by a government strong enough to stand by them.

And last i heard that was what they were doing.
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But every day, there are MORE attacks, not fewer. The Iraqi troops do not want to kill fellow Iraqis, because of thje tradition of reprisals.
If they were, in fact, doing what you say, there would not be a hue and cry for a "surge".

The Iraqi government is growing more divided and therefore WEAKER by the day, they say.

[BT]

The reason there is talk of a surge is because they want to take back militia held territories and put it back under control of the government. Retake the neighborhoods in Baghdad. Provide security to the residents. Start delivering government services, leave it in the hands of the local government and take control of the next neighborhood. It isn't rocket science and Bush has nothing to lose by advocating it. If the dems want to cut and run they know what they need to do.

I don't think the Iraqi's are that worried about reprisals because they have stepped up killing each other.