Whose 'Retreat And Defeat'?(Iraqi's do not want us to stay for "stability"

[papau]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A60971-2004Sep29.html

washingtonpost.com
Whose 'Retreat And Defeat'?

By Peter Beinart

Thursday, September 30, 2004; Page A25


The Bush campaign finally has a response to John Kerry's Iraq critique that doesn't involve the word "flip-flop." The new line, in the words of Bush spokesman Steve Schmidt, is that Kerry advocates "retreat and defeat." The president, by contrast, "will complete this mission." As President Bush himself declared during last week's news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, "We will stay the course and stand with these people so that they become free."

This sounds plausible enough. After all, Kerry says he hopes to withdraw all U.S. troops in his first term, while Bush claims to reject any such timetable, saying that America will stay in Iraq "as long as necessary, and not one day more." But in fact Bush has a de facto timetable of his own. And it will probably set in motion an American "retreat" no matter who takes the oath of office next year.

Bush is adamant that Iraq not delay elections due to be held by Jan. 31, regardless of conditions on the ground. That seems consistent with his promise to stay the course. But in fact, quick elections could produce an abrupt change of American course.

Opinion polls show that most Iraqis want U.S. troops to leave their country sooner rather than later. A May survey by the Coalition Provisional Authority found that 41 percent of Iraqis wanted coalition forces to leave immediately, while 45 percent wanted them to leave once a permanent government is elected. Only 6 percent thought troops should stay as long as is "necessary for stability." <snip>