Iraqi Withdrawal

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Jul 13, '07 · 11:11 AM397

Iraqi Withdrawal

SoWal.com was the host of an online Town Hall style discussion this past Thursday evening to debate the issue of Iraqi Withdrawal. Posters were encouraged to both ask questions and to propose solutions to a pair of experts- Dr Stephan Biddle, Senior Fellow for Defense Policy; and Max Boot, senior Fellow for National Security Studies; both of the Council on Foreign Relations. The discussion was moderated by veteran TV host Dr. Ruth Westheimer.

The Walton Funn was there and has the following excerpts from the discussion:

To begin the discussion, the experts Biddle and Boots outlined the inherent problems regarding any Iraqi Withdrawal scenario.

An early withdrawal will satisfy neither the US or Iraq. ?Extracting ourselves before the climax of operations will leave both parties frustrated and the planned goals effectively unconsummated.?, explained Biddle.

The unsatisfactory conclusion of an early withdrawal must be counter balanced against the equally troubling consequences of a late withdrawal. ?We don?t want to get stuck with a bastard country, prone to strife and forcing a long term US commitment.?, said Mr. Boot.

SoWal posters then got around to suggesting solutions to these problems.

Several posters suggested that Iran may be asked to come in as a third player to form an Iraqi Threeway. The experts were lukewarm to this proposal noting that Iran has shown little interest in getting in bed with the US and has consistently expressed concern that the Bush Administration is merely setting it up as a proxy to cleaning up any mess left over from an early US Withdrawal. ?The Iranian Mullahs are certainly not going to drawn into a situation where they have to wipe up the consequences of American actions while we scurry along home alone scott free????.?, said Biddle.

SoWal poster SwingingJohnson timidly proposed a Rhythm Method of military intervention in which American Forces would be sequestered in fortified bases around Iraq and would venture out into action only at carefully scheduled times. Experts Biddle and Boot both agreed that the idea had merit but was still not a foolproof solution. Dr Ruth encouraged SwingingJohnson to continue to caress this proposal, exploring it until he felt comfortable sharing it.

Poster SickGen berated everyone else in the discussion for even debating the topic, explaining that staying the course was the only solution and that Iraq had acted like a Mid-East hussy, taunting everyone, and had got what it deserved. ?The only thing we really need is the equivalent of national Viagra to get our resolve up?, said SickGen.

All posters commented on the abhorrent lack of proper armoring for US Forces in Iraq. And that practicing a well protected, safe intervention was the only acceptable solution.

Poster 30-gAy proposed a Backdoor Strategy for Iraq with American forces being repositioned in Turkey where they could maintain a strong regional presence and be able to plunge in at a moments notice. Experts Biddle and Boots were clearly uncomfortable with that suggestion.

At the conclusion of the discussion, Dr. Ruth expressed her opinion that the time spent talking about this issue had been fruitful ?and that she looked forward to SoWal.com providing a forum for an open flow of ideas on a host of interesting topics.

Tune in to SoWal.com next week when another panel will discuss the subject: The Immigration Debate: Senator Hymen discusses our busted borders.