Should We Stay or Should We Go?

Baghdad's Fissures and Mistrust Keep Political Goals Out of Reach

Iraqi politicians across the sectarian spectrum said their political process is being hijacked by American domestic politics. Pressured by congressional Democrats and growing antiwar sentiment at home, senior U.S. officials are growing impatient.

Rick Moran writes:

Clearly, the government of Prime Minister Maliki doesn’t have time to affect the changes necessary that would lead to this reconciliation. By that I mean our efforts at improving security (the largest but by no means the only aspect of our new strategy) will only last as long as we have sufficient troops on the ground to carry out that mission. And the entire point of my article was simple; time is running out. Blame it on the press. Blame it on the Democrats. Blame it on Elvis. The fact is the American people have had enough. And what little support there is for our mission in Iraq will only lessen the closer we get to the 2008 election.

I agree that the American people have run out of patience. Just check the polls on Iraq at PollingReport.com.

The Iraqi Security Forces must provide enough stability for Iraq's democratic political process. It will take decades to overcome the post-Saddam and historical scars that exist between competing Iraqi groups. However, there's a price to pay for pulling out of Iraq before the Iraqi Security Forces are able to provide that stability.

Kinda reminds me of The Clash's, Should I Stay or Should I Go?


UPDATE:

For an update on the Iraqi Security Forces, see BG Pittard's interviews from 27 April 2007:

Video: Brig. Gen. Pittard - Part 1

Talks to an ABC reporter in New York, N.Y., about the progress being made by the transition teams training Iraqi forces and the capability of Iraqi forces to take over their own security. Part 1 of 2.

Video: Brig. Gen. Pittard - Part 2

Talks to an ABC reporter in New York, N.Y., about the rate of attrition in the Iraqi forces, the capabilities of Iraqi forces in combat, defending Iraqi borders, Iraqi equipment needs and the accountability of military leaders. Part 2 of 2.

Video: Brig. Gen. Pittard

Talks to a Pentagon Channel reporter in Washington, D.C., about the progress of the Iraqi security forces, progress of the current troop surge and sectarian violence in Baghdad.

Video: Brig. Gen. Pittard - Part 1

Talks to an NBC reporter in Baghdad about the progress of the Iraqi security forces, how sectarian conflict plays a role in the missions of the U.S. military, the stability of the Iraqi government and the security of the Iraqi borders. Part 1 of 2.

Video: Brig. Gen. Pittard - Part 2

Talks to an NBC reporter about threats from Syria and Iran along the Iraqi borders, actions being taken to secure the borders, the progress of Iraqi security forces and the possible cuts in military funding. Part 2 of 2.