Washington File

There's something else here. The soldiers that we send to these places to fight are for the most part like you and me. Trained to fight yes, but with a family, kids in daycare and school, a mortgage etc. They like to watch sports on TV and relax with a beer. They get benefits and a pension and it is their job.
They are up against people who have completely different ideologies. Battle hardened by centuries of conflict much of it fighting outside invaders, they kidnap, behead and burn in broad daylight, they torture and kill leaving mutilated bodies all over the cities, there's no shortage of suicide bombers, they do whatever it takes. I don't think any of us can truly relate to what is going on.
I know Saddam wasn't the nicest person in the world (or at least so our leaders and media tell us) but does it occur to anyone that some countries need a strongman who can keep some semblance of control and peace for the majority. Do we really think our style of democracy can work and perhaps someone like Layton, Dion, or Harper can run a country like Iraq or Afghanistan? Come on. We are sending our kids to die for some idiotic notion like this?

Read the comments posted so far and concur that the Iraqi war is fast becoming a schmozzle. Many of the comments it appears to me point out weaknesses in the US political system and as far as I know especially at the federal level. I have followed PBS broadcasts discussing ways the US voting system is being manipulated by the major political parties by way of jerrymandering (correct spelling?), faulty voting machines, etc. So my question is, why is there no outcry and demand from Americans, and especially office holders in the senate and congress for the overhaul of the US political system? Noone running for president or for that matter any political office should be able to occupy that office unless the voters have given them a clear majority (or plurality) of the vote.

Henry
Apparently Bush's handling of the Iraq situation is at a high. I don't understand how the U.S. public at large knowing Bush went in without justifiable cause, no plan and no way out still approve his actions by 71% Can you help me with this ??
Doug Perry

No I can not!...the polls showing of continued support for Bush is mystifing to everyone, given that those same people polled clearly seem to understand and accept the administration's role.
What is alarming for many in washington, friend and foe alike of the President..is what happens if those support numbers fall, as they may do in the aftermath of the iraq study group and and the democratic takeover on capitol hill.

A weakened president at this time serves no-one well.

The Iraq report is an interesting read and seems to make a lot of sense but I just can't imagine the Bush crowdd accepting much of it and admitting they made a mistake and botched the whole thing. Sadly I suspect that the real meat of the thing will be shoved aside and the war will continue until, your guess is as good as mine.What a waste!

Building US military bases in Iraq won't help the Iraqi people rebuild their country, almost destroyed by America's 'Operation Freedom'.
Washington can't just 'cut & run' now, when they made such strong promises not to do so.
The US & Its coalition partners must now do the honourable thing - dismantle all their military basis & begin rebuilding Iraq.
Once the US has dismantled her 'weapons of deception' armories in Iraq, then She & Her coalition partners must begins to rebuild Iraq. Hopefully, once the rebuilding process is under way in Iraq, other Nations will come alongside to assist in the rebuilding process.
All armed forces in Iraq must be changed to Peacekeeping Units, set up between warring factions in Iraq & give the Iraqi people the opportunity to fight their own fight & to make their own peace & theoretical, rhetorical demoracy be damned!
Last but far from least, America should learn to listen to the rest of the world & never again start a unilateral war FOR ANY REASON!

The US is currently building 5 gigantic military bases in Iraq (as well as the largest embassy complex in the world). The President may say the US has no interest in permanent military bases (ISG Recommendation #22) but until the construction of the bases is stopped, or at least it is openly addresses why they are being built (a gift to the Iraqis?), there is no real talk of US withdrawal from Iraq.

Larry, there is no question that Saddam was awful but he had nothing to do with 9/11, and the War on Terrorism has been compromised by this distraction. Few people realize that not only is Canada fighting alongside the US in Afghanistan but so is France with 400 Special Forces on the border with the 82nd Airborne and 1600 on ISAF (some of whom should be in the south with us, rather than hanging out in Kabul). If there is War on Dictators, then the liberation of Burma probably deserves a higher priority (and you will probably get a flower-strewn victory parade) while lawless failed states like Somalia are conduits for arms that supply Al Qaeda.

Honour seems to be a great defense when the US government talks to its people, too bad it is not more prevalent when the decisions are made to pulverize the infrastructure of an almost defenseless nation. How did they expect the average Iraqi to fend of the extemists when their will to fight went the way of their electricity, water and sense of security? Reality check, we have already seen the collapse of Iraq's government and it is a humanitarian catastrophe!

I fear for the Western world. We have gotten to a place where it ok for people like Saddam Hussein to invade two countries, gas the kurds and kill thousands of shia.We in the west are too fat and happy.its much easier for us to talk about problems than do anything about them.We sit and watch Darfur and wait for someone to stop the killing. Just like we sat and watch the killing in Rwanda without lifting a finger to stop it.I read a quote once about the Holocaust " Thou shalt not be a victim. Thou shalt not be a perpetrator. Above all, thou shalt not be a bystander.I think in the future the US will become more of a bystander and the world will be poorer for it

Carlos, it is only the conservative media like Fox News, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Times and talk radio who trumpet the latest GOP line blaming the Iraqis. This is like being criticized for bad housekeeping after the Hell's Angels take over your house for a party and trash it! Despite that speakers on CNN, MSNBC and other outlets poke holes in that line of thinking, conservative media holds sway with the unquestioning nationalist segment of the population. And Keri, I know that the fight in Afghanistan is all about 9/11 and I'm proud that Canada is there. Actually, everybody is there beside the US including the French (who are still being slagged for not going to Iraq). Unfortunately, people on the raving right and loony left (as well as lazy TV news producers) link Iraq to the War on Terrorism for their own ends, which creates an unnecessary controversy within Canada.

It is amazing how a man that has failed all his life was allowed to invade a country without any real reason, declared his pet war over and created the chaos we are now witnessing. Almost 3 million people have been dislodged and thousands have died and millions live in fear and in a destroyed nation. Furthermore if I am not mistaken, I sense the American media already blaming the Iraqi government for all of it. The usual media control with its spin doctors to cover up one more horrible tragedy from an arrogant group of people that think the world is their poker table. Like he has done all of his life, he is going to walk away from it and smile one more time. Friends in high places will buy his way out one more time. Am I wrong or all of this is a war crime? They do not exist only for those who have no International power or voice !! What a great farce this all was and what incompetence and mediocrity. No wonder the young generation wants nothing to do with our politics. It stinks and as an adult I am ashamed of it. Where is the International Court when the US causes this much pain to millions of people. Where is Canada's voice on this? Do we only have the guts to call it a crime when it involves Tutsis or Hutus or others that do not count much in our sick international human rights? 2008 will replace the president and once again all will be forgotten except for those who had to suffer it themselves. What goes around comes around!!!

Carlos Beca

Actually I believe the report is overly optimistic. It calls for (roughly quoted) "tremendous unity, willpower, bipartisanship". That will never happen.

The vile, cruel, horrible monsters in the Bush administration wanted billions of dollars in thier pockets, oil money, power. They will never agree to work that hard for peace. The dems have shown good restraint and common sense but they are too weak to clean up this mess.

Any seven year old knows that human beings need to negotiate peace. Most republicans know the way to peace but would die before trying peace talks.

Here is the solution: go back in time. Take out Hussein with the Iraqi army on our side like we are trying to do now. Work with the Iraqis instead of blowing them up.

Send American troops to Afghanistan. Have them build schools, hospitals and help people as a bribe to find the Bin Laden (oh yeah, that's what the Taliban did, built schools and hospitals and guess what? Bin Laden got away with killing three thousand of my fellow Americans.)

Let me make it clear, at least half of Americans NEVER supported Bush and he stole the election with his money and power. Other nations should watch out for conservative dictators who keep too many secrets.

Now all we can do is with all our hearts, thank the Canadian troops for fighting our war in Afghanistan for us.

Negotiate with Iran and Syria will be difficult for Bush to do because it's hard to bargain from a position of strength when you are on your knees. It terms of getting the job done I would suggest that Bush stop trying to do the job, a job, any job: he's lousy at it and always has been. Thousands of dead Americans and tens of thousands of dead Iraqis would almost certainly agree. This pathetic excuse for a president has inflicted more harm on the world in 6 years than the old cold war enemies ever did in all their history: we all knew it at least here in the real world, where prior to the war in Iraq starting polls clearly showed that the majority of people around the world considered Bush to be a greater threat to world peace than Saddam Hussein, al -Qaida or all the regimes of the middle east rolled together. Quite the indictment. Too bad we all don't have a vote in American elections.