Ricks on our Fiasco
Listen to Thomas Ricks' interview on his new book Fiasco; The American Military Adventure in Iraq.
We simply must begin to have a faithful conversation about our action in Iraq and how we will move forward. The use of force, choosing appropriate means to desired ends, the kind of planning that is becoming of mature adult decision-makers, the place or lack thereof for torture in our action, making the world better - Iraq is certainly a religious issue for us, and St. Peter's cannot be afraid to face it.
If you cannot read Ricks' book, again, listen to the interview and get some of the picture. Bush-Republicans; don't palpitate, Ricks wants to win in Iraq and his criticism could help us do it. We need a major change of strategy, it is obvious to anyone who is informed (turns out many of us are not). Lefties; in case you've forgotten our experience in the Balkans under Gen. Wesley Clark during the Clinton administration, it is possible to use American military force effectively and for greater good. Even if you favor immediate withdrawal from Iraq, please help the rest of us find a way to change course and pursue a positive outcome as your backup plan.
Ricks thinks that about 1/3 of our professional officer corps really gets it - the relational structure of Iraqi society, how to use minimum force to accomplish specific missions, how to effectively, pragmatically get things done - anything we can do to empower, encourage, and expand the numbers of these folks increases the chances of achieving something decent in Iraq.
Unfortunately, it would be a sin of omission not to point out that the upper levels of our civilian leadership, including Rumsfeld, Cheney, Wolfowitz, and Bush, seem hell-bent on ignoring the input, experience, service, leadership, and loyalty of the military's professional officer corps. My take is that if we desire a decent outcome in Iraq, these guys are part of our problem. There are many, perhaps a majority, of good, reasonable Republicans and self-described "conservatives" whose interests and worldview have been betrayed by a small group of kleptocratic impostors; it is these fine folk who wield the greatest power over our national path forward. I have great hope that these patriots will awaken and restore reason, pragmatism, and sanity to the leadership of the Republican party.
We simply must begin to have a faithful conversation about our action in Iraq and how we will move forward. The use of force, choosing appropriate means to desired ends, the kind of planning that is becoming of mature adult decision-makers, the place or lack thereof for torture in our action, making the world better - Iraq is certainly a religious issue for us, and St. Peter's cannot be afraid to face it.
If you cannot read Ricks' book, again, listen to the interview and get some of the picture. Bush-Republicans; don't palpitate, Ricks wants to win in Iraq and his criticism could help us do it. We need a major change of strategy, it is obvious to anyone who is informed (turns out many of us are not). Lefties; in case you've forgotten our experience in the Balkans under Gen. Wesley Clark during the Clinton administration, it is possible to use American military force effectively and for greater good. Even if you favor immediate withdrawal from Iraq, please help the rest of us find a way to change course and pursue a positive outcome as your backup plan.
Ricks thinks that about 1/3 of our professional officer corps really gets it - the relational structure of Iraqi society, how to use minimum force to accomplish specific missions, how to effectively, pragmatically get things done - anything we can do to empower, encourage, and expand the numbers of these folks increases the chances of achieving something decent in Iraq.
Unfortunately, it would be a sin of omission not to point out that the upper levels of our civilian leadership, including Rumsfeld, Cheney, Wolfowitz, and Bush, seem hell-bent on ignoring the input, experience, service, leadership, and loyalty of the military's professional officer corps. My take is that if we desire a decent outcome in Iraq, these guys are part of our problem. There are many, perhaps a majority, of good, reasonable Republicans and self-described "conservatives" whose interests and worldview have been betrayed by a small group of kleptocratic impostors; it is these fine folk who wield the greatest power over our national path forward. I have great hope that these patriots will awaken and restore reason, pragmatism, and sanity to the leadership of the Republican party.
Ricks on our Fiasco posted by St. Peter's UCC at Wednesday, July 26, 2006
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