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Memo To Washington: Iraq Is Not A Nation And You Can’t Build One There With Bombs
Submitted by David Stockman via Contra Corner blog,
Washington’s strategy in Iraq is in shambles, but not just because America’s spanker-in-chief is really a wimp at heart. The problem is far more generic. To wit, the geographic territory of Iraq is not a nation; it is an arbitrary series of lines on a map drawn 100 years ago by dandies in the foreign offices of two fading empires (the British and the French) - which lines encircled numerous tribes, ethnicities and religious confessions which had no interest in sharing a common statehood.
In the subsequent century, the warring peoples corralled within the Sykes-Picot boundaries were ram-rodded into a tenuous co-existence by a series of brutal monarchs, generals and dictators, backed up by British and American occupiers. But then the neo-con geniuses in the George W. Bush Administration hung the last dictator and the poll readers in the Obama White House had the good sense to adhere to their campaign pledge and bug out.
They left behind $25 billion in military training and state-of-the-art warfare equipment, but neither a dictator nor a nation. Indeed, under the later heading they had endeavored to build a nation where there had been none, but ended up liquidating the machinery - the Republican Guards and the Baathist political party—that had enforced co-existence with machine guns and poison gas canisters.
Foolishly claiming America’s job was done at the end of 2011 when the last GIs boarded transports out of Bagdad, Barrack Obama was actually opening the gates of hell without a clue as to the furies that would soon come swarming through. Well, they are all here now with blood soaked hands grasping their weapons and agitated tongues issuing the spittle of revenge and historic enmities.
Yet the foolish man in the White House and his historically illiterate advisors keep banging the same old failed lever. Namely, they are once again attempting to deploy bombs, dollars and hortatory commands to cajole and herd Sunni, Shiite, Kurds and numerous other sectarian and tribal fragments from the time warp of history into a common polity—-a purported nation that would do Washington’s bidding in the ancient lands of Mesopotamia.
So doing, they are attempting to mobilize the alleged Iraqi nation against the freshly minted threat of the Islamic State. But yesterday’s news about the relief of the ISIS siege on the northern town of Amirli underscores how truly senile and clueless the Washington War party has actually become.
Yes, it was American bombers who spared the 17,000 Shiite Turkmen besieged there of the horrible prospect of a Sunni conversion at the sword. Consider, however, the associated and allied forces on the ground which essentially observed and reported the flight of the ISIS fighters from the aerial onslaught.
There was the Kurdish Peshmerga army that for years occupied a high rank on the State Department’s list of terrorist organizations. And also on hand were various and sundry Shiite militias—–many of which have been aligned, funded or even directed from the headquarters of the Axis of Evil, the allegedly terrorist nation of Iran. Indeed, as one Sunni politician confessed to a Wall Street Journal reporter:
“We don’t really have an army. Maliki just created a sectarian army, working with militias,” said Hamid Al Mutlaq, a prominent Sunni politician. “A lot of criminals, killers and bad people were included.”
Shiite militias such as the Badr Corps, the Hizbullah Brigades, Asaib Ahl Al Haq and the Mehdi Army, have all been accused of abuses against Sunnis.
But the frosting on the cake came from Washington’s former man in charge—outgoing prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki. Making his last hurrah, he showed up at Amirli praising the Shiite militia men for their heroics—-perhaps including those who only weeks earlier wiped out 70 Sunni worshippers in a nearby town—while failing to even mention the American warplanes which had actually done the job or the Peshmerga that have actually carried the fight against ISIS in the north.
As if to remind the world that there is actually no such thing as an “Iraqi army” but only the armed Shiite in Iraqi uniforms or their own militia, Maliki called this wholly transient and irrelevant relief of one tiny town among the checkerboard of vestigial religious sects which occupy the upper Tigress-Euphrates Valley “a second Karbala”. Well, no wonder the Sunni are alienated! That’s the battle of Gettysburg on steroids. Its where the 13-century long schism between the Sunni and Shiite all started.
As for the retreating ISIS warriors, never mind that their ranks were formed during the US engineered “surge” in Anbar province in 2007-2008 and the CIA training camps for Syrian rebels in Jordan during more recent months. At least the American bombers did destroy a few more American Humvees.
And that’s actually the point. American bombers can destroy the equipment left behind from the Bush occupation, but that’s about all. The second battle of Karbala! Please, can Washington possibly get a more poignant reminder that it cannot bomb or bribe an Iraqi nation into existence?
Indeed, it is time for Washington to learn to celebrate the letter “P”. It stands for partition. Let the Kurds have their nation in the northeast and make their political and economic arrangements—already well advanced–with Turkey. Let the south of Iraq congeal into a Shiite province—-loosely or otherwise affiliated with Iran, which together might form an effective barrier to the expansionary ambitions of the Islamic State.
And finally, let ISIS try to govern 8 million people in the dusty villages and impoverished desert expanse of the Euphrates Valley by means of the sword and medieval precepts of Sharia law. The resulting “blowback” from the bestirred people of the ISIS occupied lands will do more for the safety and security of the American people than all the drones and bombers that Washington could send to forge a puppet nation within borders that have already been deposited in the dustbin of history.
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ISIS is as ISIS does.
Note: It does not target KSA or Israel.
The strategy described in the article does not increase arms sales. Therefore the US will not adopt it.
Don't see any increased drug sales with this plan either. No can Do. Sorry.
funny thing about 'iraq'
there are several 'iraqs'
there is an iraq on the globe. a region of land.
there is a corporate entity of iraq.
there is a ruling entity of iraq.
there are human people who identify themselves with the word 'iraq'
there is an abstract concept of iraq. the flaq puts an image with that abstraction.
you can shift around during a single conversation, moving from iraq-land to iraq-corporation to iraq-rulership to iraq-people to iraq-abstraction.
it's easy to confuse the listener.
and easy to confuse the speaker.
It is rather odd that the sworn enemy in Jihad (Israel or infadel or who? pigs..or something? wish theyd come to 'Merika, we gots a pig problem) goes unscathed. I mean, they made it across the entirety of Iraq in a 2 mile long convoy of bright white TOyota Trucks (Amerian Made to boot)and not one drone strike. Dosent seem too hard to get to Israel or Saudi Arabia or Qatar with a track record of stealth like that.
Yet
Ditto Ukraine.
Iraqi is a giant shit hole
Mission Accomplished.
Think of how many millions of Iraqis would still be alive if the U.S. hadn't "saved" them from Saddam. Disturbing, to say the least.
how about thinking of not drawing that border in the sand in the first place....
same ukraine, khruscev drew the border from Kremlin, now thousands died
do we need borders at all? Borders only serve states, require costly maintenance, are totaly imaginary
now how about ISIS will be able to run that territory much more effectively and cheaply, with less coercion, with less government revenue, with no office borders, THAT is my dear readers the real threat for western statists...
plus so far they dont kill any kids and women unlike their sponsors from israel, they only behead, like french did
The French ?
Remember how much hate FRANCE got in the US for NOT wanting to contribute in this dirty and stupid Irak war in 2003.
The whole dumbass "FREEDOM FRIES", the TV news showing proud Americans pouring French wines in the gutter, the “cheese-eating surrender MONKEYS” things – all kind of silly jokes still continuing, even in ZH …. Five years of Anti-French slander and vilification was thus thrust by the White House, the Bush administration, members of Congress, governors and by lackeys in the media (like Fox News or Murdoch Press).
May all Americans remember what they did, and how it speaks volumes about how are treated dissent, opinion and opposition.
Can't recall if it was Robin Williams or George Carlin who called Iraq "Earth's etch-a-sketch."
meanwhile on "Ukraine Today..."
http://rt.com/news/184604-ukraine-today-trolling-rt/
Boy, the French & English sure can fuck up some stuff huh?
The Ottomans really had this region under control ;-)
(If you were Sunni)
Air traffic control?
http://freebeacon.com/national-security/missing-libyan-jetliners-raise-f...
Yeah, I read about that, more fear mongering far as I can tell.
Not sure of the range of 320's/330's but I think they'd have to refuel before they made it to Hommassasa ;-)
I would have used another word in place of ‘dandy’ that I am too polite to disclose.
Ever hear the phrase everything we touch turns to shit?
"US President Barack Obama on Tuesday authorized the deployment of an additional 350 American troops to Iraq, where they will be charged with protecting US diplomats and facilitates in Baghdad."
http://rt.com/usa/184632-obama-more-military-iraq/
He was for pulling out before putting more in.
No wonder the Wookie has such a perpetual pout on her face.
OK, I concede. The politically incorrect man of the year is...
NMEWN. Wear it in good health:)
lol...thank you, thank you, I humbly accept.
I would like to take this opportunity to recognize all the "folks" who made this possible. I would like to thank the NBC audio editors who snipped & spliced the Zimmerman 911 tape. I'd also like to thank the two reverends (without heading churchs or congregations) for thrusting themselves into every spotlight the MSM offered them in order to make a profit off of the misery & angst of others. I'd also like to thank our reigning "law enforcement officer" (Holder) for calling this society a nation of cowards from his marbled pedestal of contempt of Congress, Fast & Furious and letting voter intimidation slide as long as it fits his mold of "prosecutorial discretion".
Lastly, I'd like to thank Obama, the subservient man-child for stabbing everyone who ever believed in Hope-n-Change in the back and making this award possible.
Thank you all ;-)
That tranny hole has seen more dick that a truck stop urinal, not a chance he can even feel it. ITs just frustrating for him that Obombya wont make up his mind is all.
Guess they'll be wearing Crocs. 'No Boots! Obama'.
Well, No isreal Kid will fill the void of a GOY.
Give the south to Saudi Arabia
Indeed, it is time for Washington to learn to celebrate the letter “P”. It stands for partition. Let the Kurds have their nation in the northeast and make their political and economic arrangements—already well advanced–with Turkey. Let the south of Iraq congeal into a Shiite province—-loosely or otherwise affiliated with Iran, which together might form an effective barrier to the expansionary ambitions of the Islamic State.
One of the reasons (among many others) to let ISIS exist, well funded and unmolested in the first place. To break up the "Shiite corridor".
Harbouring, financing and training terrorists aint all that bad apparently, as long as the "right" people are doing it. Hypocrisy galore.
true, but God help you if you're a christian gun owner in rural america.
Islamist militias in Libya took control of nearly a dozen commercial jetliners last month, and western intelligence agencies recently issued a warning that the jets could be used in terrorist attacks across North Africa.
Intelligence reports of the stolen jetliners were distributed within the U.S. government over the past two weeks and included a warning that one or more of the aircraft could be used in an attack later this month on the date marking the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks against New York and Washington, said U.S. officials familiar with the reports.
“There are a number of commercial airliners in Libya that are missing,” said one official. “We found out on September 11 what can happen with hijacked planes.”
http://freebeacon.com/national-security/missing-libyan-jetliners-raise-f...
-Doesn't this Criminal CIA False Flag, False Narrative, PsyOp get obvious after a while? The Criminal Pure Evil, Psycopathic CIA has lost its creativity with False Narratives. Perhaps they should put a classified ad for some fresh new Script Writers.
Agreed. There is no more Iraq. However, it's going to be one heckuva job trying to draw new borders. Somehow I don't think the Islamic State is currently very sanguine on borders.
Correct, no they're not. Neither do Boko Haram.
They seem quite ambitious, with planning...and stuff ;-)
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2014/07/01/ISIS-Releases-Map-of-5-Year-Plan-to-Spread-from-Spain-to-China
No more, Iraq. No more Libya. sensing a trend here. Syria, Ukraine next. Effective at least.
I wonder just how many people in Iraq (hell for that matter around the globe) have been killed either directly or indirectly as a result of U.S meddling. It's sickening.
dont fool yourself, man has a penchant for destruction. Someone will always fill that gap.
I bet you could (re) build the USA with a well placed bomb
*cough* DC *cough*
Typical republican screed, Stockman should stick with economics. Rethugs built the joke that is Iraq now, and there is nothing anyone can do about it at this point. The government was designed to be a puppet state by BushCo, and it is falling apart just like one. I recall Vietnam falling apart pretty quick, but nobody expected otherwise at the time. I guess the right has lost most of their brain cells since then. The US needs to pull every soldier and operative out of region and let the chips fall. There are so many cross currents and games being played by all the forces in the region that it is a lose/lose, but that will never fly with the KOCHnation that wants hell-knows-what from this.
Did you even bother reading the article ? Judging by the ridiculousness of your comment, I'm guessing you didn't. Keep falling for that pretend red/ blue team divide and the evil Koch brothers meme while at the same time excusing Soros and his ilk. Someday maybe you'll get a clue.
Stockman sure seems cranky behind the keyboard of this article.
"Asia is not going to be 'civilized' by the methods of the West. There is too much Asia and she is too old."
This from the "Prophet of Imperialism" - Rudy "Notyergiuliani" Kipling
I'm not too sure how many western leaders would be willing to talk about creating three states. It would open a pandoras box of others who want the same all over the world.
"...Iraq is not a nation; it is an arbitrary series of lines on a map drawn 100 years ago by dandies in the foreign offices of two fading empires (the British and the French)"
It is a sad indictment of Britain that so often when I see unrest, civil wars or border disputes going on around the world, many of them appear to be leftovers from British colonial rule after it drew lines on maps to expand or manipulate its empire or simply as a way of cutting and running from a quagmire of its own making (Paki/India). Iraq is one example. Pakistan/India is another. Northern Ireland is yet another. One can even add Scotland & Wales into that swamp. And let's not forget that Cornwall (West of England) continues to argue for its independence from Westminster rule.
And yet, the British Foreign Office boffins - still based in the glorious palacial Empire residence in London - continue to hum "Rule Britannia, Britannia Rules The Waves".
Another 'american' article which is set to hide what 'americans' have been doing.
Iraq, despite its start and 'americans''pressure, managed to turn into a nation with a functional state. That is why 'americans' had to destroy it. Iraq is no longer a nation after the successful intervention by 'americans'.
After getting rid of stateless societies, 'americans' want two visions of societies: state societies and failed state societies.
'Americans' did not want Iraq in the club of state societies, which they managed to join despite the 'american' opposition.
Therefore the nation of Iraq with its functional state had to be destroyed.
Hindsight being 20/20, probably best to leave Assad be.
Iraq under Saddam, Usay and Kusay ( sic) looks tranquil. His big fuckup was going against the petrodollar.
I remember seeing S Hussain, and getting the impression he was looking at the US, and thinking " why are you fucking with me?" Seems he knew what it took to hold that shithole together.
My favorite analogy concerning this;
You are walking down the street. You hear crying from a house. Poke your head in, and find a father "abusing" his brood. You remove him from the home, do gooder you are. And leave the children to fend for themselves. Sometimes best to just walk on by, perhaps?
Power abhors a vacumn. Seems this is no place to leave "Dictator-less".
Should be interesting to see who rises to the top of the heap when the dust settles. That would, in my view, be one bad Mutha-Fucka. Who's biggest threat would be from the US, once he gets the trains running on time.
I keep waiting and watching for China or Russia to get involved. Or do they have better things to do? Why is this our messed up sandbox? We broke it, we own it? All this makes clearly defined enemies, such as WW2, look quaint.
I'll make one bet. Obama will look like Morgan Freeman when he leaves office.