26 March 2007
Leaving Micromanagement to the Military
Contrary to the charges of the Bush Administration, Congress’s setting a deadline for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq does not mean depriving them of its support. Nor does it mean micromanagement of the military. Certainly, the armed forces are the best judges of how to carry out a military strategy. Unfortunately, the Iraq occupation is not and never has been a military problem. The Armed forces are the wrong instrument for its resolution. The military is designed to respond to attacks on our physical security, which it is clear never was at risk in Iraq. In fact, the presence of our Armed forces there mostly places our troops in physical danger.
Some cockeyed demonstration of bravado! The only audience that is impressed is the Administration’s Republican base. It certainly does not deter fundamentalist Islamic radicals from their terrorist ways. They can be defeated only by diminishing their base among deprived Muslim populations. Economic development and political empowerment, in spite of the risks to our own comfort, will be the only solution in the long run.
Contrary to the charges of the Bush Administration, Congress’s setting a deadline for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq does not mean depriving them of its support. Nor does it mean micromanagement of the military. Certainly, the armed forces are the best judges of how to carry out a military strategy. Unfortunately, the Iraq occupation is not and never has been a military problem. The Armed forces are the wrong instrument for its resolution. The military is designed to respond to attacks on our physical security, which it is clear never was at risk in Iraq. In fact, the presence of our Armed forces there mostly places our troops in physical danger.
Some cockeyed demonstration of bravado! The only audience that is impressed is the Administration’s Republican base. It certainly does not deter fundamentalist Islamic radicals from their terrorist ways. They can be defeated only by diminishing their base among deprived Muslim populations. Economic development and political empowerment, in spite of the risks to our own comfort, will be the only solution in the long run.
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