New York Times Editorial! The Road Home! It's Time!

[babsbunny]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/08/opinion/08sun1.html?_r=3&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Editorial
The Road Home
Sign In to E-Mail or Save This Print Single Page Share
DiggFacebookNewsvinePermalink

Published: July 8, 2007
It is time for the United States to leave Iraq, without any more delay than the Pentagon needs to organize an orderly exit.

•

Like many Americans, we have put off that conclusion, waiting for a sign that President Bush was seriously trying to dig the United States out of the disaster he created by invading Iraq without sufficient cause, in the face of global opposition, and without a plan to stabilize the country afterward.

At first, we believed that after destroying Iraq’s government, army, police and economic structures, the United States was obliged to try to accomplish some of the goals Mr. Bush claimed to be pursuing, chiefly building a stable, unified Iraq. When it became clear that the president had neither the vision nor the means to do that, we argued against setting a withdrawal date while there was still some chance to mitigate the chaos that would most likely follow.

[flpoljunkie]

1. It's past time, but welcome.

[ixion]

2. I was waiting eagerly to read this editorial; and, after reading it, I'm a bit disappointed

It calls for withdrawal, and then backs off that later in the piece to talk about 'bases' in Iraq.

This proves the NYT still doesn't fully grasp the issue, and is still trying to "compromise" with the unpopular preznit. :grr:

[bluerum]

3. Please. They are busy trying to organize the invasion of Iran. eom

[Grateful for Hope]

4. My thoughts exactly. n/t

[YvonneCa]

5. "Who says you can't go home...

...? " Bon Jovi :)

[Warren Stupidity]

6. The crap about the logistics of getting out is just that.

Pack it up and head back down the roads we came in on, in force, with air support. Leave the Kurds out of it. Leave Turkey out of it. We have done enough damage and messed up the region enough as it is. I am sure the Pentagon has the plans already drawn up sitting in a file good to go. All it takes is a man of courage integrity and honor to issue the orders. Obviously that is not going to happen anytime soon.

I am surprised though that the Neo Con Times did not at least issue one more Friedman Unit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedman_(unit)

[struggle4progress]

7. Large sectors of the American public opposed the Vietnam war by 1968

but we didn't leave until years later.

Large institutions have huge inertia: the military wants credit for doing a job well; its suppliers and their employees want the contract dollars; families of the dead and wounded want to believe the sacrifice has not been in vain; the architects of the war and their political supporters do not want to admit they have been wrong to beat the war-drums.

[ooga booga]

8. There's the rational and moral thing and then there's politics.

Morally and rationally, it's long overdue for this nation to confront the mess that we were lied into and leave Iraq. Like Vietnam, it seems destined to fall into the very sphere of influence we DIDN'T want. In this case, Iran's.

Politically, however, 2008 would be closer to a perfect storm for Republicans if our involvement in Iraq stays in place well into that election year. Now, we're finally seeing Republicans jumping ship, because they know that Iraq is a huge loser for them.

So, my first impulse is to get out and avoid any further casualties in Iraq. However, if Bush and Cheney insist on "staying the course," I will be dismayed by the casualties, but I can at least take some solace in the political fallout that will follow that.