Tony Blair announced that he is getting ready to pull some British troops out of Iraq. I applaud his announcement because of what he says here:
The changes will see Iraqi units doing more of the regular patrolling of Basra’s streets, and UK troops less.
I don’t know how many times it has got to be said that the key to success in Iraq is NOT an international force patrolling the country, but a coalition between Iraqis and multinational forces that eventually becomes more and more Iraqi in composition. The British seem to understand this concept as do the American commanders and the rest of our allies. I don’t really understand why other people don’t “get” this concept, but it’s the only one that’s going to work.
Iraq cannot and will not become the 51st state (Puerto Rico won’t stand for it!). However, just because Americans will leave Iraq in the next year or so doesn’t mean that there has been a “defeat” of any kind! It means that Iraqis are standing up and defending their nation. And if they do NOT stand up and defend their nation…well, chaos may not be the word to describe what will hit Iraq if that happens.
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