Among Top Officials, 'Surge' Has Sparked Dissent, Infighting

washingtonpost.com

For two hours, President Bush listened to contrasting visions of the U.S. future in Iraq. Gen. David H. Petraeus dominated the conversation by video link from Baghdad, making the case to keep as many troops as long as possible to cement any security progress. Adm. William J. Fallon, his superior, argued instead for accepting more risks in Iraq, officials said, in order to have enough forces available to confront other potential threats in the region.

The polite discussion in the White House Situation Room a week ago masked a sharper clash over the U.S. venture in Iraq, one that has been building since Fallon, chief of the U.S. Central Command, which oversees Middle East operations, sent a rear admiral to Baghdad this summer to gather information. Soon afterward, officials said, Fallon began developing plans to redefine the U.S. mission and radically draw down troops.

It's nice to hear that some military personnel are actually standing up to Bush, and speaking more pragmatically. I am not particularly in agreement with accepting more risks. It would depend on what exactly is meant by risks, and whom to. If we are talking about more risks to military personnel, then I am not for any move that results in more deaths to our men and women in the field.

However, considering the die is cast, we are going to have to accept that the Iraqis will be dealing with the sectarian violence for decades. The disbanding of the Iraqi regular army ensured that particular situation. It's obvious, after 5 years, that there will be no amount of US military intervention to correct that mistake. Indeed, it's apparent our presence in Iraq is inflaming the violence.

So, if Adm. William J. Fallon is talking about allowing the Iraqis to accept more risks, I am in agreement. If nothing else, it will require the Iraqis to take more responsibility to work out solutions. But with the presence of the military, I suspect they are more apt to wait for them to fix the problems.

Unfortunately, it's time for them to start doing for themselves. That they have a nearly untenable situation due to the incompetence and avarice of BushCo™ is something that just has to be accepted. By them, and by us.