Sunday, May 16, 2004
The comments you sent by the Nation contributers, with the partial exception of Chomsky's, is disgusting, like like most of the Nation generally. the mechanics of withdrawal are simple enough.
1. American troops retreat from the cities to enclaves, as per Sadr, and as in Vietnam.
2. Local militias are given control, as in Falujah.
3. They meet to determine a constitution and elections, with UN consultation.
4. the US sets up a trust fund to pay for the damage and to set the economiy on its feet.
5. the US withdraws, the groupings only get the money if a humane democracy is established, ratified by elections.
And something like this will happen in 5 or 10 years. It will not happen sooner because it involves an admission that the US was defeated, and therefore the Iraqis must suffer a suitable penalty, and there must be a 'decent interval' before the defeat is acknowledge, i.e. declared to be a Victory.
A military defeat is very touchy for a power system, because it encourages revolts by others, including its own population. The 1905 defeat of Russia by Japan led to the 1905 revolt, and the defeat in world war 1 led to the 1917 revolution. US emperialism will suffer; therefore no political leader will withdraw until the US power system is threatened with revolt, as happened to the Confederacy threatened with black revolt in 1865, or the revolt threatened in 1970 or so in the Vietnam war. The Bushers will never acknowledge a defeat, and Kerry, an authentic Hero, is more determined to stay in Iraq than was Humphries in l968 was determined to stay in vietnam.
consequently, the way to get out of Iraq is to build a world mass movemetnt that punishes the US power system for staying in, which even Chomsky doesn't say, although he may agree with it. the other comment is Loyal Opposition bullshit.
1. American troops retreat from the cities to enclaves, as per Sadr, and as in Vietnam.
2. Local militias are given control, as in Falujah.
3. They meet to determine a constitution and elections, with UN consultation.
4. the US sets up a trust fund to pay for the damage and to set the economiy on its feet.
5. the US withdraws, the groupings only get the money if a humane democracy is established, ratified by elections.
And something like this will happen in 5 or 10 years. It will not happen sooner because it involves an admission that the US was defeated, and therefore the Iraqis must suffer a suitable penalty, and there must be a 'decent interval' before the defeat is acknowledge, i.e. declared to be a Victory.
A military defeat is very touchy for a power system, because it encourages revolts by others, including its own population. The 1905 defeat of Russia by Japan led to the 1905 revolt, and the defeat in world war 1 led to the 1917 revolution. US emperialism will suffer; therefore no political leader will withdraw until the US power system is threatened with revolt, as happened to the Confederacy threatened with black revolt in 1865, or the revolt threatened in 1970 or so in the Vietnam war. The Bushers will never acknowledge a defeat, and Kerry, an authentic Hero, is more determined to stay in Iraq than was Humphries in l968 was determined to stay in vietnam.
consequently, the way to get out of Iraq is to build a world mass movemetnt that punishes the US power system for staying in, which even Chomsky doesn't say, although he may agree with it. the other comment is Loyal Opposition bullshit.
