How long will it take to withdraw
Until 15 months ago, the president and those who serve at his pleasure had been telling us about the progress we were making in Iraq. No matter how many times facts on the ground countered their claims, America was assured we were making progress. First, it was "mission accomplished," followed by claims we were fighting only a few remaining "dead-enders, thugs and assassins." That was followed up with "the insurgency is in its last throes." Another sign of progress was the establishment of Al Quaida in Iraq, giving us a "central front" to fight them. Fighting them in Iraq has apparently stopped the Al Quaida invasion of America that would have caused us to fight them here rather than there. However, shortly after the 2006 mid-term elections, President Bush may have seen what most of America had been seeing for sometime, because "the surge" was born.
What we are still not clear about is whether the surge came about because of the facts on the ground, or because those who opposed the war wished for America's failure. Perhaps it was because the media refused to report all the good news. I am sure it had nothing to do with actual lack of progress, or the Republicans losing the mid-terms. We can rest easy now, because once again, as reported by Gen. Petraeus and the president he serves, we are making progress in Iraq. However, it is a fragile form of progress that can easily be reversed and that unfortunately requires U.S. troop strengths to remain above pre-surge levels until after President Bush leaves office.
Progress is progress though, and because of it, the president has reduced combat tours from 15 to 12 months starting Aug. 1. A quick search of the DOD's Web site indicates 8 units rotating into Iraq prior to Aug. 1. That leaves just one unit scheduled to deploy for the remainder of 2008. I am sure the Aug. 1 commencement was just an oversight made while contemplating all the progress made since the surge began. Civilian attacks are down, and I am sure it has nothing to do with the 4 million people displaced by sectarian violence making it deadly to live in their own homes. Ethnic cleansing of neighborhoods cannot be all bad; after all, civilian casualties are down. Although this last year was the deadliest year for our troops, there has been a six-month decline in casualties.
Progress is in the eye of the beholder, though. Some folks might see us getting deeper into trouble. We have a military that is approaching a breaking point and a Commander-in-Chief willing to let his replacement clean up the mess despite the costs. It is only a matter of time before our country understands the following equation: Time + Money + Casualties = Withdrawal. Who receives the blame is all that remains in question.
David N. Hansen
Round Lake Beach