Stars and Stripes LTTE: Political progress in Iraq?

[babylonsister]

http://stripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=48960

Political progress in Iraq?

“Petraeus: Summer ’08 drawdown possible” (article, Sept. 11) is encouraging. However, I find it unsettling that no mention is made of the political progress that is needed in order for Iraq to function as an independent nation.

What is being done to ensure that the Iraqi government takes over police and military functions? The solution is not going to be resolved using military force. U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker did not mention how and when the Iraqi government will begin functioning other than to say: “This process will not be quick. It will be uneven and punctuated by setbacks, as well as achievements, and it will require substantial U.S. resolve and commitment.”

I have seen this movie before. In other words, more unnecessary deaths of our troops and innocent Iraqi lives sacrificed for their domestic problem that has yet to hold accountable Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Either he can do the job or he can’t. If he is unwilling or incapable of leading Iraq, then another leader needs to get things moving.

Also, what is Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice doing to work with neighboring Middle Eastern countries with regard to Iraq? Why wasn’t she testifying along with Gen. David Petraeus (head of U.S. forces in Iraq) and Crocker?

The State Department should be pushing harder for specifics and time lines for accomplishing an independent Iraq. This is not a job for the U.S. military. What are we paying our civilian leaders for?

I am sick of seeing our military being used like pawns in a chess game by neoconservatives in the Bush administration. Until we have a consistent, competent and cohesive bilateral foreign policy, we will never develop a permanent solution in Iraq. President Bush has failed us.

Chief Yeoman Bernard Michael Burawski (retired)
Altamonte Springs, Fla.