The Geniuses at the Washington Post (and their BS editorial on Iraq) [View All]

[ProSense]

The Geniuses at the Washington Post

Posted by Ilan Goldenberg

The Washington Post Editorial Board really outdid itself today with an editorial page piece that essentially argues that America's entire foreign policy should be based on what the Maliki government and Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari wants us to do. Of course it's important to take advice from allies and to get feedback from people on the ground, but it's also important to remember that Maliki and his allies have a vested interest in maintaining an unconditional commitment of American forces to Iraq, while they continue to dither along on critical political questions such as the integration of the Sons of Iraq into the Iraqi Security Forces, agreements on sharing oil revenue, agreement on the status of Kirkuk, and other key political questions.

Perhaps our decisions on troops should be based on America's interests not Iraq's interests? You know, like the fact that things in Afghanistan seem to be deteriorating further with the recent prison break near Kandahar. Or that our military is under severe strain? Just a thought.

The post also quotes Zebari as saying that "there would not be much difference" between Obama and McCain. But let's be clear. Obama wants to eliminate the moral hazard that the Post is pushing for by setting a responsible timeline for the withdrawal of American forces and making very clear that if Iraqi politicians want more American support they must step up and take responsibility for a political solution. According to the article he specifically told this to Zebari. McCain is advocating keeping American troops in Iraq no matter what and thus putting little real pressure on the Iraqis to come to a political accommodation, while American troops continue to backstop their internal political fights. That's a big difference. A huge difference.

Let's see: withdrawal vs. 100 years, hmmm?