Following many topics over the last few weeks it has become evident that one must not only have a view for Iraq, but a plan as well. I believe I have a plan and one that is truly needed at this stage in the "war" for Iraq's future.
History
We cannot look into the future of Iraq without understanding her past. In general it has been a past of oppression and domination. It was a state dominated by the Ottoman Turks. Once it was set free from Turkish domination it came under the authority of British rule (post Great War). The British chose to install a Hashemite Monarch and allow Sunni dominion over the majority Shi'a and Kurdish, who did occasionally revolt. To attend to these revolts the British hastily repressed the Shi'a and Kurds, typically with Indian and local Sunni soldiers even using chemical gasses found unsuitable for use on the fields of Europe during the Great War. As Iraq became a post colonial Baathist regime it remained in Sunni hands under Saddam Hussein who employed brutal strategies in order to maintain control, especially on the Kurdish and Shi'a populations.
Guerilla Warfare
The American military, much like its Israeli brethren has shown little propensity towards fighting guerilla warfare in this environment. While death in combat remains managable, injuries and public relations have not gotten under control. Iraq itself remains a very dangerous place and the pace of rebuilding has been labeled by many as "poor" and "unsatisfactory." The main road from the airport into Baghdad's Green Zone is not secure. Many of the slums surrounding Baghdad are not secure. Sectarian violence has created havoc and made life unsuitable and unsafe for many of the liberated population.
The Plan
1. Establish Authority
2. Enforce Authority
3. Establish Fear
4. New Government
5. Victory
Establish Authority
The rushed Iraqi Government is an utter and ridiculous failure. They are not respected and are rather useless. In many ways they are an obstacle we don't need. Remove them.
The only authority in Iraq will be an American Governor General and a British General.
Enforce Authority
All media, television, newspapers, and any other reporting done in Iraq will go through the American Governor General's Office. Anyone in violation gets sent to jail. All trials are handled swiftly by a military court in Baghdad. Efficiency is paramount. Laws are passed by a consultation with the British General. That's it. No legislature or other garbage to get in the way. This isn't the time for the inefficient trudging along of a Republic. That can come post war.
Establish Fear
There are a number of methods to go about this.
1. If you get listed on the most wanted list for sectarian attacks, then family retribution sets in. Your male relatives get castrated and sent to a labour internment camp. Your female family members get sent to a GI brothel. Children get placed in foster homes. All of their property gets used as target practice and the nicest home gets turned into a public toilet.
2. When they kill 30 Sunni in an attack, our military kills 40 Shi'a. When the Sunni retaliate and kill 40 Shi'a, our military kill 50 Sunni. We go door to door and pull people out of homes. We get other Sunni/Shia to do the executing. They'll get tired of the blood eventually or they'll be few of them left - whichever comes first. The executions will be televised so everyone can see.
3. Run up and shoot a GI then hide in a crowd of people? We'll gather the entire crowd and shoot them all one by one.
4. If a shrine, a building, or a home causes a problem more than once it gets blown up. Two strikes and you're blown up policy.
5. No more torture. It is a stupid waste of time and prison space. You comit a crime, you die.
6. Control the water: every well, oasis, waterhole, and the two major rivers become property of the Governor General. Anyone who comes within 10 feet of a source of water without proper authority is shot - no questions asked. Water becomes strictly rationed and ownership of any non-rationed water is a crime (see #5 above).
7. Every Friday is gun amnesty day. Bring in weapons and receive an extra water ration. If no weapons are brought in that day then the town has to select a certain percentage of people to be killed.
8. Add your own...
New Government
After a few years of this the Iraqis should be good and tired of the bloodshed. A dictator should be installed that can maintain the peace, but with much less violence.
Victory
Thoughts?
