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Give the Iraqi people a chance to decide

Reader comment on item: Hugging Iraq's Leaders

Submitted by Jason (United States), May 3, 2006 at 10:25

There is a simple solution to the issue of having US troops in Iraq: let the Iraqi people vote on the issue. This is the ultimate win-win situation for the US, and would negate this whole issue of how the new Iraqi government is perceived.

If the Iraqi people vote for the US troops to stay, all further criticism of the Iraqi government being too close to the US, or being a Western puppet, is moot. The people will have spoken and said that they don't object to the relationship between the Iraqi government and the US.

If the Iraqi people vote for the US troops to leave, then we have the perfect route out. It will take three to six months to draw down and withdraw our troops while effectively turning control over to the Iraqi's. In leaving under these circumstances, we will have shown the world that bombs and bullets mean nothing to us: only ballots count. This would also give a boost to the new government by saying that the people have enough faith in it to go it alone, so violent opposition had better stop quickly (the Iraqi government would also have a much freer hand in dealing with the terrorists than they do right now).

In lieu of such a vote, Dr. Pipes is correct. The US needs to place some distance between itself and the Iraqis. The US needs to openly discuss the differences between what we would like, and what the Iraqs are doing. The administration needs to work agressively to highlight the independence of the Iraqi government.

However, just because we have differences of opinion with them doesn't mean we abandon them. We actually have far more serious differences of opinion with the Brits, Germans, and French than we do with the Iraqis. Even so, if any of those three were attacked, we would immediately come to their aid (well at least the Brits and Germans anyway).

Submitting....

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Reader comments (72) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Explain Iraq's Regression [84 words]DaveAug 23, 2014 14:59217353
1The word Mesopotamia [204 words]dhimmi no moreAug 23, 2014 08:24217346
Either you fight terrorism or you pretend you do. These don't mix [108 words]Marcel ZytoJul 1, 2006 10:3748655
west underating of islam [247 words]italianMay 15, 2006 19:1445678
For Mr. Pipes: A lost cause and a lesson [unfortunately not] learned [838 words]Pro-Israeli DemocratMay 9, 2006 14:1545119
a democratic Iraq? [121 words]frank keefeMay 10, 2006 11:5445119
Suits Me [114 words]Sword of Islam & The Babies of BeslanMay 12, 2006 21:0445119
Question for Mr Daniel Pipes: Is an immediate US military pullout from Iraq advisable ? [135 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
true believerMay 5, 2006 04:1244889
Do Not Pull Out [505 words]John RMay 6, 2006 06:2544889
Mithaq missiles handed over to Sadrists!! [121 words]HarrakMay 6, 2006 11:5344889
Hugging terrorists [175 words]HarrakMay 4, 2006 17:4644866
Mousaoui's fate is worse than death [585 words]JasonMay 8, 2006 11:2544866
France should pay for its citizens [112 words]HarrakMay 8, 2006 19:4644866
re: jason's thoughts on mousaoui [147 words]snakeMay 9, 2006 00:2944866
Put him in jail and keep him there [318 words]Octavio JohansonMay 9, 2006 05:2344866
Hell on Earth [160 words]SeedeaterMay 17, 2006 11:0544866
Nod DoC [15 words]john cookJun 21, 2006 11:4644866
HUGGING IRAQ'S LEADES. [76 words]samMay 4, 2006 13:4744857
Lebanon refuses to allow Taiwan president plane land in Beitut! a Chinese influence [90 words]HarrakMay 4, 2006 12:0744855
more of the same [102 words]Carmen Waggoner, Ph.D.May 4, 2006 08:3244846
A Bunch of Bafflegab [134 words]RichieMay 3, 2006 22:4144828
It would aid the Iraqi government if Bush pretends to be very angry at them [42 words]Brian LuedkeMay 3, 2006 19:2244820
More on "hugs"... [141 words]J.S.May 3, 2006 15:2944808
Get a backbone! [311 words]JustMeMay 3, 2006 13:4344799
Bravo! [65 words]twoheroesMay 4, 2006 00:1444799
Give the Iraqi people a chance to decide [325 words]JasonMay 3, 2006 10:2544791
Not that simple [206 words]PatMay 4, 2006 11:5944791
1The Iraqi people would be sending their government, and themselves, a powerful message [128 words]JasonMay 8, 2006 11:3644791
Wouldn't this be the fourth vote? [161 words]PatMay 8, 2006 16:3244791
Not a very pleasant sight [68 words]PhillipMay 3, 2006 08:4544788
Playing to win. [76 words]Robert LynnMay 3, 2006 01:0844774
ok, don't hug iraqi leaders, but don't ditch them either [90 words]jaleecMay 3, 2006 00:4544773
The notion of a victory in ditching the impossible [400 words]Yuval Brandstetter MDMay 3, 2006 10:0644773
A brief note... [105 words]J.S.May 4, 2006 18:4444773
huggin' the iraqis [125 words]robert fusfeldMay 2, 2006 19:3544767
Hugging [54 words]Donald W. BalesMay 2, 2006 19:0144764
Hugs Hugs and more Hugs [143 words]renchMay 2, 2006 17:0744762
You write a great deal about Israels position, what position is the US in ? [51 words]narmerMay 2, 2006 16:2644759
1Understanding the USA conflict of interest with China and Russia [239 words]HarrakMay 3, 2006 11:3044759
Money Makes Their World Turn [145 words]Sword of Islam & The Babies of BeslanMay 3, 2006 16:3144759
positive! what have you.. [201 words]HarrakMay 2, 2006 16:0444756
Back-Off Time [52 words]Lee D. CaryMay 2, 2006 15:5444754
Hugging the enemy, [228 words]kim segarMay 2, 2006 13:5444747
Are we coming or going? [427 words]PatMay 2, 2006 12:4744745
Suggest You Join, John R.... [84 words]Dr. Lee D. CaryMay 2, 2006 16:0444745
Lots of work for Muslims to do [160 words]PatMay 3, 2006 12:2244745
Indifference Kills [309 words]Lee D. CaryMay 3, 2006 16:1044745
Ungrateful Iraqis nonsense again, huh? [151 words]AmirMay 3, 2006 23:3744745
Selfish Reasons? [214 words]PatMay 4, 2006 16:2844745
Muslims have to stand up and be counted. [598 words]PatMay 4, 2006 17:4544745
Not indifferent after all [387 words]Lee D. CaryMay 5, 2006 17:0744745
You're Right, Amir [247 words]Lee D CaryMay 5, 2006 17:3244745
Going nuclear entails responsibility [218 words]PatMay 5, 2006 19:3244745
Amir lives in the West for selfish reasons [32 words]Octavio JohansonMay 6, 2006 08:5744745
I'm glad [10 words]LD CaryMay 6, 2006 09:4544745
islamic education and honesty [93 words]G.BisvasMay 8, 2006 07:3844745
inability to read the Arab mind [130 words]Yuval Brandstetter MDMay 2, 2006 12:4544744
Intelligence level of US admn. [50 words]G. BisvasMay 2, 2006 12:4344743
Brilliant ad hominem argument [1 words]Lee D. CaryMay 2, 2006 16:0944743
Brilliant ad hominem argument - how? [193 words]G.BisvasMay 3, 2006 04:2844743
Ad hominem Again [274 words]Lee D. CaryMay 3, 2006 15:5044743
Bisvas Knows All [141 words]InfidelMay 3, 2006 16:4944743
re:Mr. Bisvas [354 words]true believerMay 4, 2006 06:4944743
Knows a lot [129 words]G.BisvasMay 5, 2006 05:1144743
True Correction for True Believer [32 words]Lee D CaryMay 5, 2006 17:4044743
The Ad Verecundiam Shift [70 words]LD CaryMay 5, 2006 19:0844743
various types of intelligences [117 words]G.BisvasMay 6, 2006 04:3644743
re: True correction for true believer [14 words]true believerMay 10, 2006 08:1844743
Restraint in Iraq [167 words]Dan WeilMay 2, 2006 12:3544742
Deal with what is feeding the down-side [98 words]David W. LincolnMay 2, 2006 12:2944741
Either smash them or get out [88 words]William Sumner Scott, J.D.May 2, 2006 12:0244740
Thanks [92 words]MarkMay 2, 2006 11:5444737

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