A fellow neo con says Chimpy is destined to fail in Iraq

This history suggests that the coalition's grand aspirations for Iraq will not succeed. However constructive its intentions to build democracy, the coalition cannot win the confidence of Muslim Iraq nor win acceptance as its overlord. Even spending $18 billion in one year on economic development does not improve matters.

I therefore counsel the occupying forces quickly to leave Iraqi cities and then, when feasible, to leave Iraq as a whole. They should seek out what I have been calling for since a year ago: a democratically minded Iraqi strongman, someone who will work with the coalition forces, provide decent government, and move eventually toward a more open political system.

This sounds slow, dull and unsatisfactory. But at least it will work -- in contrast to the ambitious but failing current project.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/otherviews/cst-edt-pipes14.html

We set 'em up, then we knock 'em off. Actors playing their parts in a time honored script.

He was used by the French to stop our merchant ships from sailing into the Mediterranean. He took our sailors captive and we built him a war ship to appease him and get the sailors back. Later we fought a war against him. That's were the line in the Marine song comes from. "to the shores of Tripoli"

in opposition to buying them off with the ship.

that Bush will continue in his ways until the election in November when he is ousted. Then the whole mess will fall in the lap of Kerry. The question is, what is Kerry going to do about it?

:shrug:

...this was the neocon plan all along, yes? Maybe not Chimpy's plan, but that hardly matters. All the better if he believes what he is saying about "freedom" and "liberty" and all that twaddle for the masses.

Presumably the "democratically minded Iraqi strongman" is Ahmed Chalabi. And if he has to rule with an iron hand, and the US as his enforcers, and all the contracts going the way they should, and none of this genuine voting or anything messy like that, well, again, so much the better. Really much better, more convenient than "democracy" whatever that is.

You do realize this has been the plan all along, yes? I don't think the Chimp knows it, but I'm quite sure it's what most of the insiders are expecting, hoping for, and working toward.

edit: tried to tighten up a couple of things.

what about you?

...I hope it all comes flaming apart sooner rather than later.

Chalabi would face some stiff opposition, but Rummy has already handed him one of the biggest gifts he could ask for, strongman-wise: possession of all the Saddam regime's secret police files. Think that'll come in handy for him in consolidating his position?

I think the poster higher up is essentially right: we're just trying to do the same old thing we did when we installed Saddam (and the Shah, and Pinochet, and....) in the first place. It's the old "Sure he's a bastard, but he's OUR bastard," philosophy we've seen reiterated so tiresomely and tragically over the last 5 decades--and never any recognition of that troublesome little thing called blowback. Like watching a lunatic banging his head against the wall.

:hi:

I don't know what Kerry's exact plan is, but I do believe his approach would be more reasonable and better for the US and the Middle East. He understands much, and is surrounded by statesmen wiser than any Bush could assemble.
I actually don't blame him for keeping quiet about his plan.
I think he is right to watch Bush maneuver aimlessly through the hell he's greedily created.
I don't doubt that it pains Kerry as it does us. But as Bush's failed war continues, I think Kerry is indeed keeping a vigilant eye and the final debut of his own plan to make sense of Bush's mess will be spelled out, soundly and thoughtfully, in due time.
Nothing Kerry says about Irraq now is going to make a hill of beans since Bush's disaster changes every week. Let all eyes be on Bush's failure as it unfolds.
In the end Kerry will step up to the plate and present a solid and most acceptable plan for all. With people like Bill Clinton there to advise and be part of Kerry's private "think tank", watching Bush's errs, I am confident he will give the world a respectable reunifying plan.
Considering the sorry state of affairs Bush has created, & the tragedy lain upon our Nation since Bush poked his empty head into the political world, I believe John Kerry, together with Wes Clark, Dean, Edwards, Clinton, and those who willingly surround him now, will not cower to fulfill his lifelong destiny as a servant to the people.

I am reassured by the strength of those who stand by Kerry, that there will be a better day.
Bush's comeuppance will happen in due time.

was being appointed to some council of foreign whatever by Bush? Did he not get the job and is now embittered or is he the 1st in a line of many neo-holes to jump ship? I saw him on cspan pushing a book, the crowd had no mercy on him.