Moving Closer to Defeat By Donnel Jones, May 4, 2004	Home   Search   Forum   Terms

We are posed to lose this war. I'm no chicken-hawk and will gladly concede any robust resumption of the war on terror but now, apparently, Bush has proved about as effectual with Fallujah as Kerry would have been and that means: not at all.

The Washington Times reports that leading fighters behind the insurrection in Fallujah have escaped during the siege. The 360 degree cordon around the city was not air-tight. That in itself can be forgiven. We are, after all, talking about the Marines. Even they are only human.

But what is truly alarming is that nothing seems to be happening in Fallujah but dithering and indecision. I'm well aware that, from the safety of my armchair and in the luxury of my modest living standards that I can harp about the war when I'm not in the line of fire. By no means do I find fault with our soldiers, many of whom are more man than I (and most men I know). Fine and good. I know my place.

I find fault with our politicians and top brass who are more concerned about politics than fighting this war. Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez has bowed to pressure from the Iraqi Governing Council to withdraw from Fallujah yet, "[f]irst of all, let's make sure we understand the Marines have not pulled back," Gen. Myers said Sunday on ABC's "This Week." "They have not pulled back at all. Now, what we are trying to do is what we are trying to do throughout Iraq, is get Iraqis to help deal with this issue." So Sanchez did not back off from Fallujah. We are only appearing to do so?

As for the Iraqis trying to "deal with this issue," let us remember that many have abandoned their posts during the siege. The Iraqi fighters on our side are incapable and/or unwilling to fight. It is for the U.S. to put down this rebellion. It is too daunting a task for the Iraqis. We all understand the Iraqis need their country back. They want to take charge. The Iraqi Governing Council doesn't want the U.S. to finish its business in Fallujah and do what needs to be done to crush the insurgents. Yet, if the Iraqis want their country back, they have to fight for it.

Gen. Myers is spinning because he knows things are out of control. You want Vietnam Syndrome confirmed? Throw in some uncertainly, hesitation, and lack of resolve and voila!, you get a Tet Offensive, which, in contrast to Fallujah, was a military victory but a political failure. What we have here, so far, is both military and political failure. What is Bush doing? Pulling a Clinton? Why on earth would we allow Iraqi "soldiers" to take on Fallujah? Is this part of a bigger game plan we civilians don't understand?

I don't trust the Iraqis doing the dirty work. As for taking their country back, they don't have one to take back until the insurrection is crushed and Iraq can safely move toward consensual government. As they are currently unfit to put down the insurrection themselves it is left to the American Marines to do so. Let the Council have a bird. They'll be dissolved June 30th anyway. Better to get some bad PR in appearing draconian in Fallujah than allowing something far worse to brew in the future, which will happen now that the leaders of Fallujah's rebellion have escaped and the top brass, and Bush, do not seem to know what they're doing. Hey, if you think I'm full of it on this, then let me just add that, in entertaining the idea that they know what they're doing after all, the very appearance of dithering is extremely damaging. Let's just say it appears that they show a lack of resolve. Exactly what the Islamists want to see. Fascists are brilliant at detecting and exploiting our weak points. They don't have our weakness in times like this.

Furthermore, foreign fighters in Iraq are coming through the border with Syria. And Iran will not rest until a Shi'ite dictatorship is established in Iraq. To what degree can we win this war when the Islamists, both in Fallujah and in southern Iraq where Sheik Muqtada al-Sadr is causing more trouble, have such allies? Yes, I know it is easier said than done to deal with these enemies but they must be dealt with or we will certainly lose the peace and the war.

All this at the time images of tortured Iraqi prisoners in Abu Gharib are being viewed throughout the world. This is surely the week, the month, from hell for the United States and its efforts to stabilize Iraq. If things do not turn around, we can kiss Iraq goodbye and the anti-war crowd will have their victory.