Hope is not a strategy. Hortatory talk about what the Iraqi government must do is getting old. I mean, I have heard over and over again that the government must do this, the Iraqi army must do that. Nobody disagrees with that. The brutal fact is, it is not happening. ~ Sen. Hillary Rodham ClintonThe Administration's strategy in Iraq has devolved into Stay-and-Pray. Nothing we try is working but if we just keep at it a little longer everything will be just fine. Insanity is defined as "doing the same thing and expecting a different result." General John Abiziad, by this reckoning, is quite insane.
The truth is that the current strategy is a failure. Three and a half years after the occupation began the opportunities to adjust the strategies to find a successful result have all been squandered. The blatant corruption of companies like Halliburton, the brutality of mercenary firms like Blackwater USA, the incompetence of the Coalition Provisional Authority have so poisoned relations that anything resembling success is impossible. The only choices are between differing ways to fail.
Not knowing what to do when surprised by a bright light, the deer stood motionless in the middle of the road until run over by a truck.It is instinctive when faced with a conundrum to stand transfixed, unable to decide what to do next. It is instinct; it is also foolish. Yet this is how Gen. Abiziad stands. Blinded by a dazzling failure, his only thoughts are to not think. Faced with not knowing what to do next, he chooses to do nothing. Stay the Course. Stay and Pray. When Hope transcends Reason, all we have left is prayer.
2 comments:
Great Post. Dovetails with what I've been saying.
The war profiteers don't want to leave. And their supporters are going to think of every way possible to ensure we do stay.
If that means sending more troops and then bringing them home later so they can say "we're reducing troop levels" they'll do it.
Truth is, one of the hardest things for people do is to turn back when the consequences of proceeding are unacceptible. Applies to moutaineering, business, making a big investment, like in a car, our house.
In business, people speak of "cutting your loses." In mountaineering, you might "retreat off the mountain." Sort of sounds like "cut and run." But, mountaineers and business people aren't stupid.
Maybe we should send Bush to run Iraq and leave us alone. A non-sequitor, but it seemed appropriate.
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