tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5214538580794208872.post3338359209846423986..comments2023-08-07T10:44:38.896-04:00Comments on MMM: Obama's Political ChopsMafoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06560276684013585697noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5214538580794208872.post-46782105197396745382008-05-21T12:48:00.000-04:002008-05-21T12:48:00.000-04:00I think what concerns me about the mainstream call...I think what concerns me about the mainstream calls for withdrawal is that they seem focused solely on the domestic effects of the war: the loss of our soldiers, the money that could be used for social programs here, etc. The major candidates aren't marketing the withdrawal as an alleviation of the suffering of the Iraqi people - it's sad but I don't think the American public cares much about that. It seems the general population wants to correct our mistake as quickly as possible and have a superficial happy ending superimposed onto the whole thing. This all sounds terribly cynical, I know. <BR/><BR/>This isn't to say that I think a long occupation would be any better, though. Your idea of reparations and asylum would definitely get my vote, but could it actually come to fruition? One would hope. But again my cynicism starts throbbing in the back of my head. <BR/><BR/>The fact that recent mass tragedies in Burma and China have elicited less concern in this country than, say, <A HREF="http://mattmarksmusic.blogspot.com/2008/05/1-dead-pretty-white-girl-more-important.html" REL="nofollow">one pretty white girl</A> makes me wonder if genocide in Iraq would even be of concern to people here. <BR/><BR/>That said, I do have some trust that Obama would have a sensible withdrawal plan that would be more based on the reality of the situation on the ground, although I don't really know specifics of his plan. I think Clinton would base her move solely on public opinion and I fear McCain would listen to Halliburton, who I'm sure would love the 100 year plan.Mafoohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06560276684013585697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5214538580794208872.post-26559924667140985702008-05-17T16:14:00.000-04:002008-05-17T16:14:00.000-04:00Hey Matt,Good post. RE: "we committed to this dumb...Hey Matt,<BR/><BR/>Good post. RE: "we committed to this dumbass war, and we should have to pay whatever exorbitant financial and human cost necessary to clean up our mess" -- I agree, of course, but we cannot begin doing this until US troops are out. It's abosultely clear that the US presence is making things less stable, not more stable, and that things cannot possibly begin to improve until US troops are gone. No government in the history of mankind has ever been seen as legitimate whenit's allied with a foreign occupying army on the streets, so it's no wonder that the Iraqi government sucks so bad and that the people are in open revolt against it. <BR/><BR/>The "financial and human cost to clean up this mess" ought to be massive reparations and humanitarian aid to the Iraqi people (once a stable government is in place), and to the surrouding nations who have been taking in Iraqi refugees... offering the right of asylum for any Iraqis whose lives are now endangered becuase they assisted US forces... stuff like that. Prolonging our stay in Iraq only means getting further embroiled in the onging civil war, helping the illegitimate and corrupt Shia government in its bid to crush the Sunnis and the rival Shia militias. No good can come of this.DJAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12435473070510590935noreply@blogger.com