What's the best solution for Iraq?

[Onlooker]

[ret5hd]

1. Well, there's always this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2761921

[HCE SuiGeneris]

6. or this >>>

1) The US needs to drop the hostility to IRAN. We cannot afford a war with Iran, so cut the bullshit.
2) The US needs to ENGAGE Iran, simply because IRAN IS THE NEXT DOOR Neighbor of Iraq. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that your next door neighbor has a greater interest in stopping thieves from looting your home than some guy who lives in a different state all together.
3) IRAN is a SHIA nation, 60% of the population of IRAQ are Shia, and they will respond more favorably to the Ayatollahs in Iran than they will respond to George Bush.
4) Engage Syria because it ALSO shares a border with Iraq and can have a positive influence on the Bathists in IRAQ.
5) To engage Syria, the US must force Israel to return the Golan Heights to Syria.
6) To engage Iran, the US must have drop it's opposition to Iran's nuclear program, after all there is NOTHING, repeat NOTHING, the US can do to stop the Iranian program. Nuclear programs are more about the acquisition of knowledge and expertise than it is about possessing "the bomb." Once you have the knowledge, the only thing that is missing is time and money, and Iran has plenty of Money.
7) The Ayatollahs are not stupid. All living organisms have an innate self-preservation mechanism. No they will attack Israel with nuclear weapons. They understand the consequences. However, the Iranians clearly understand, as the North Koreans, have demonstrated, the possession of a nuclear weapon is a huge INCENTIVE for peaceful co-existence. Just as MAD (mutual assured destruction) and detente worked for the USSR and the US during the cold war, is exactly how it will work with the Ayatollahs and the US.
8) Let the Kurds know in no uncertain terms, that they will not be allowed to form an independent Kurdistan.

Engage Iran, Syria and encourage them that it is in their interest TO HELP the US clean up the MESS it has made. Bring American troops home. They don't belong there. They NEVER did, and they NEVER WILL. For as long as they are there they will be targets.

[hsher]

2. I vote Bellus Interruptus

:patriot:

[Trajan]

3. I voted 'other' ....

Though a combination of your selections would be best, in my view ...

In the end it would amount to this:

Sighs ..... I had written a series of steps that could lead to peace, which I just erased ...

In all honesty, I cannot see a peace effort bearing fruit, because revenge and hatred drives the parties to commit acts of vicious barbarity that causes more revenge and hatred that drives the parties to commit acts of vicious barbarity that causes more revenge and hatred that drives the parties to commit acts of vicious barbarity that causes more revenge and hatred that drives the parties to commit acts of vicious barbarity ...

Apparently without end .... So goes the Middle East ....

My pessimism is growing ....

After we get out, there is going to be a bloodbath of biblical proportions ....

How sad ... How pitiful ....

What an awful onslaught George and his minions have unleashed ....

The Middle East will be a steaming pile of poisoned earth within the next decade ....

Game over .....

[Redstone]

4. Pick up our stuff and go home.

Redstone

[Spinzonner]

5. There are no 'bests' anymore, only least worsts

I think the only thing that has a chance of any kind of stability in the short term and minimzing the vilence and instability is a partitioning into ethnic areas overseen by neighboring nations and the U.S. and the U.N. to ensure the protection of intermixed civilians. Oil revenue and maybe the extraction operations should be under the administration of an international commission so it can be aportioned out on an equitable basis to the whole population, not just those living where the oil lies.

Maybe a federation can evolve into something more eventually, but there's no way to get there directly from the current situation.

[nevergiveup]

7. Replace al-Maliki with Cheney

and then immediately pull out all the troops.