U.S. Sees Iraqi National Guard as the Ticket Home

[leftchick]

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-training21aug21,1,7181722.story?coll=la-news-a_section

<snip>

The compound in Tikrit is one of six centralized facilities in Iraq set up to train the nation's fledgling national guard, which Iraqi and U.S. officials envision as the principal force in putting down an insurgency that has shown few signs of weakening since the U.S.-led coalition transferred sovereignty to Iraqis on June 28.

U.S. commanders are planning for the national guard to control the overall security of Iraq's major cities by January, when elections are scheduled.

A standing Iraqi army won't be trained by then, and when it is, it will focus on external threats to Iraq, not the internal security woes the country is suffering. Moreover, the Iraqi police service in some of the most troubled locations is riddled with corruption. For instance, U.S. officials believe that the police in Ramadi have been almost entirely co-opted by the insurgency.

The hopes of the 160,000 multinational troops in Iraq, of whom 140,000 are Americans, thus rests largely on whether the national guard — totaling just more than 41,000 — can be built into a professional fighting force in short order.

[IndianaGreen]

1. Ticket home in a body bag!

We lost this war already! We are now going through a period of denial. Hopefully, we won't have to wait long for the day in which we accept defeat and bring all of our troops home.

[jayfish]

2. Eurika, What A Great Idea. We Can Call It...

Iraqification. ..."won't get fooled again."

Jay

[happyslug]

3. Double Speak is alive and well I see.

I quote from the Article:

"Moreover, the Iraqi police service in some of the most troubled locations is riddled with corruption. For instance, U.S. officials believe that the police in Ramadi have been almost entirely co-opted by the insurgency."

THAT IS NOT CORRUPTION, BUT REBELLION (maybe Treason against the New Iraqi Government, but that will be decided by who wins control of Iraq in the next five years). Corruption implies people TAKING BRIBES NOT THAT PEOPLE SUPPORT THE OTHER SIDE.

Just reminds me of the Corrupt GOP Political boss of the late 1800s who said "An Honest Politician is one who stays bought". Not only are you Liberal if you oppose Bush but you are Corrupt. Opposition is evil, a concept that would turn Madison over in his grave (James Madison is the founder of the concept of "Fractions").

Thus is this the new Bush policy "Us vs Them"? It sounds more and more like it, a concept that can NOT permit losing power.

Now I mentions the concept of "Fractions" so let me explain it. Prior to James Madison the problem of Democracy was how to protect minorities? If majority rules, what would prevent the Majority from being a tyrant to the minority? James Madison solution was to set up a form of Government where everyone is sooner or later a Minority and sooner or later a member of the majority. Given this situation people who form a temporary majority (which is all you can ever have under Madison's concept of Fractions) knew that soon they will be a member of a Minority. This understanding would give Every majority incentive to protect the minority (which will soon be them, or at least part of the Majority will be the Minority).

In many ways HOW the US Government work is this concept of Fractions and the constant interaction of the Fractions to form majorities to get things done. Under Reagan for example the Democrats had the House and the GOP the Senate, you had majorities of the House passing bills Reagan wanted as some of the Democrats voted with the GOP to pass the bills. Many of these same Democrats were the ones who voted for the Restrictions on the Contras (along with some Moderate GOP Senators who made up the Majority of the Senate Vote for the Restrictions). This is the Concept of Fractions is operation. Different majorities at different times for different laws.

Notice the key to this is to have an effective opposition. Sometime the Opposition leadership is what is needed to get a bill passed as opposed to the leadership of the majority (look at the Contra Funding and Reagan's tax cuts and Reagan's tax increases at the end of his second term). Bush and company can not handle opposition (or even use the opposition like Lincoln used the Northern Opposition during the Civil War).

In many way that people view Corruption and opposition as the some word gives be fears for the health of the Republic.

The Iraqi Police are "Corrupt" because they support the other side? Is this the new definition of "Corruption" i.e. you are corrupt if you oppose Bush and Company?

[heidler1]

4. True. I would like to add that Sadr appears to be the one who hasn't sold

out to the Bush money. If that becomes very obvious and the only good guy leader among the Iraqis who are fighting the occupiers (Namely the US) we might as well start packing. Sadr will end up with all of the real power and Sistani will be in deep shit.

[jukes]

5. 4 word response:

ARVN

[Gyre]

6. Good. They can help "guard" the pipelines.

Hee hee! Can you say $100/bbl oil? Is it possible to have a civil war when everybody hates an entity who's suddenly not around?

Gyre

[Disturbed]

7. The light at the end of the tunnel...

is a match that someone is applying to a large stack of dynamite.