I have a difficult relationship with Captain’s Journal. On the one hand, I find Herschel Smith’s politics mystifying (who the hell cares if he’s a Christian?) and his self-congratulatory glee (“we said so and we were right”) distasteful. On the other hand, he writes well, reads a lot and, oddly enough, is often right. Case in point:
The stupid desire for ‘legitimacy’ on the world stage created the situation in which we were seeking the approval of both Iraq and the U.N. for our continued presence in Iraq. The mistake was in ever agreeing to a SOFA to begin with. Too much national treasure (in blood and wealth) has been invested to allow Iraqi politicians to determine the disposition of U.S. forces in Iraq. History has taught us the lesson that we cannot even fully trust U.S. politicians with the safety, troop strength and mission of U.S. troops. A fortiori, the Iraqi politicians can be trusted even less.
While we at The Stupidest Man on Earth obviously disagree on the legitimacy of the initial invasion, we agree that SOFA in its present form was a mistake. We further contend that America’s lack of leverage in Iraq is a catastrophe, and that ultimately Iraqi civilians and American soldiers will pay the price for this folly. Hence, we must concur with Captain’s Journal as they recommend:
[...] Don’t clear the roads, provide them with air cover, supply them logistics, or give them vehicle parts. It’s time for daddy to take away the car keys and see just how far junior thinks he can get without his old man’s money and stuff.
Getting to this late, but a query (following the analogy proposed): might it be that the kids with the keys currently couldn’t last more than a week without “daddy” and his toys – and that everyone knows it? That the alternative siblings that would then be empowered are even more problematic (to the U.S. at least) – and everyone knows it. So that the facile analogy of daddy and kiddies is just that – facile.
The U.S. is in the ultimate Catch – 22. Nothing can be achieved in Iraq as long as the U.S. stays, and the U.S. will pay a tremendous price if/when it departs. Its lose-lose and nobody knows what is the bigger loss at this point.
As Tom Ricks pointed out in his latest book (to paraphrase) – the most decisive events are yet to come; we are early in the Iraq game.
Finally, Mr. Smith and many other American’s should lose the smug superiority by using such analogies – Iraqis aren’t children. Iraqis may be paying a steeper price, but they were not alone in creating the disaster in their country – Americans played a tremendously important role for going on nineteen years now. A little humility and contrition might be in order.
All my best,
John
Well said. I couldn’t agree more.
@john measor
You can say that again.