Comments on: ‘We Have Taken It As Far As Americans Can’ http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2009/06/30/we-have-taken-it-as-far-as-americans-can/ Wed, 05 Jan 2011 21:59:36 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: mikeyhemlok http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2009/06/30/we-have-taken-it-as-far-as-americans-can/#comment-11275 mikeyhemlok Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:09:39 +0000 http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2009/06/30/we-have-taken-it-as-far-as-americans-can/#comment-11275 <p>It seems, to me, strictly symbolic, not that there’s anything wrong with that. Every American Soldier, Airman and Marine that was there last week is there now. Anything that happens, there are American military resources in place, from REACT to air support to logistical assistance to field leadership. It’s like a kid on a bike with training wheels.</p> <p>After the January elections, when the actual withdrawal begins to kick in, we’ll really see what they’ve got. I think it’s becoming clear that Maliki’s instincts are as authoritarian and undemocratic strongman, which may very well be his greatest value. With the corruption, nepotism, sectarianism and inertia Iraq isn’t going to be a democratic paradise anytime soon, and there’s no real indication that their economy has any kind of legs, but there’s at least a decent chance that complete collapse has been averted.</p> <p>Yay?</p> <p>mikey</p> It seems, to me, strictly symbolic, not that there’s anything wrong with that. Every American Soldier, Airman and Marine that was there last week is there now. Anything that happens, there are American military resources in place, from REACT to air support to logistical assistance to field leadership. It’s like a kid on a bike with training wheels.

After the January elections, when the actual withdrawal begins to kick in, we’ll really see what they’ve got. I think it’s becoming clear that Maliki’s instincts are as authoritarian and undemocratic strongman, which may very well be his greatest value. With the corruption, nepotism, sectarianism and inertia Iraq isn’t going to be a democratic paradise anytime soon, and there’s no real indication that their economy has any kind of legs, but there’s at least a decent chance that complete collapse has been averted.

Yay?

mikey

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