Joe Conason explains the realities of the situation.
As America marks the first anniversary of the troop escalation in Iraq, at least one thing has become clear. Although the “surge” is failing as policy, it seems to be succeeding as propaganda. Even as George W. Bush continues to bump and scrape along the bottom of public approval, significantly more people now believe we are “winning” the war.
We have helped the Sunnis go after Al Qaida, and that’s a good thing, but what happens to the armed Sunni militias? The Iraqi government wants them to eventually disarm, but we know that will not happen.
The religious and tribal conflicts in Iraq will take years, if not decades, to resolve. It’s a fantasy to think we can keep thousands and thousands of soldiers in Iraq until they work this out. Even if they manage to negotiate an agreement, it’s a fantasy to think it could hold without the presence of our Army.
