Iraq's clear, present danger
Postwar Struggles Threaten to Lure U.S. Into Quagmire

``Democracy is a mental state that needs to be practiced,'' said Dr. Qassim H. Salih, a professor of psychology at Baghdad University. ``We can't let extreme groups take control and so we need America to stay here and help us learn to practice democracy -- but not forever.''

But Iraq's best-known political leaders have different ideas. The coalition working with the United States on forming a new government disagrees with the recent U.S. decision to delay handing over power and instead work with a handpicked Iraqi advisory council that would help Americans make policy for up to two years. The coalition is vowing to hold a national conference to pick new leaders no matter what America says or does, and it's expected that those leaders would seek real control.

That could put the United States in the difficult position of having to justify its advisory council over a group of Iraqi leaders chosen by a more inclusive and democratic process.

In the meantime, soldiers who long ago expected to be going home are the ones trying to keep the peace while the politicians keep going back to the drawing board. And the prospect of staying in Iraq much longer isn't going over well with many.

``Already the Iraqi people aren't crazy about us being here,'' Capt. Lagor said a day after fuming on the Baghdad bridge.

``They tolerate us,'' he said, ``but a lot of times I think people are waving at us and saying, `We want to . . . kill you.' ''
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Delusions

The Pentagon has about 150,000 troops in Iraq, mostly Army soldiers. Collins predicted that it would require three to four divisions — about 60,000 to 80,000 troops — to maintain law and order long-term. Collins was optimistic that U.S. allies could provide up to three-quarters of those troops.

Military analysts doubt allies would produce that many troops. Even if they did, using a patchwork force would be a "bad idea," said Andrew Bacevich, a military analyst at Boston University.

"It would be OK if you were just babysitting," Bacevich said. "The truth is, however, that the war is not over."

The war is not over is a phrase you'll just have to get used to. Because it isn't closer to over.

Our allies are not going to join us in Iraq in large numbers. What parliament is going to vote to send thousands of troops to join an occupation which is bitterly opposed by most of their population. Who is going to suggest that they send their troops to patrol Falluja?

How the US could have planned to wage this war without allies support is beyond me. Rummy and his chickenhawk planners had their fun planning the war but they forgot to plan the peace. Now, you have a population both humiliated and angered at an occupation which they feel is leading to them turning into the next Palestinians.
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How not to manage a colony

"We are going to clean this place out," one American official said.

Gunmen have been using increasingly sophisticated techniques to attack American convoys in this area, using flares, lights in houses and lookouts to time attacks, American officers said. After weeks of low casualty rates, 10 Americans soldiers have been killed and dozens wounded in the last fifteen days

A brigade sized sweep to round up 400 people, three of whom may have dropped dead.

Yeah, an effective use of combat power....which will stop few attacks.

The US military's arrogance is apparent here in spades.

How?
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