So, when will Iraq take care of itself?

[DamnYankee]

'It's Time for the Iraqis to Step Up'
Local Forces' Conduct During Mission to Help Disabled Children Raises Questions About Future After U.S. Withdrawal

By Ernesto Londoño
Washington Post Foreign Service
Sunday, May 10, 2009

BAGHDAD -- Under the glare of a Humvee's headlights, Brad Blauser broke a sweat assembling a pediatric wheelchair as a small group of Iraqi soldiers observed quietly.

The idea was to train the Iraqis so that when the time came to distribute the wheelchairs, Blauser and the 20 or so U.S. soldiers who coordinated the giveaway could fade into the background as Iraqi troops presented 32 fully assembled wheelchairs to disabled children.

"We're trying to build rapport," said Staff Sgt. Craig Jackson, 34, of Pennsylvania, one of the squad leaders working with Blauser. "Show them that their government is trying to help its people."

But the mission in Fadhil, a predominantly Sunni neighborhood in Baghdad, showed quite the opposite. It raised questions that haunt U.S. troops as they prepare to pull out of Iraqi cities by June 30: When the Americans leave, how will the Iraqi forces behave? Will the billions of dollars and thousands of lives spent propping up and legitimizing the Iraqi government prove to have been a poor investment?

Thirty minutes into the assembly tutorial, the crowd of Iraqi soldiers thinned as curiosity gave way to boredom. Soon, Blauser, 43, found himself surrounded mainly by U.S. troops.

"What happened to all the people who were supposed to be helping put these together?" demanded Jackson, visibly irked. "We're not doing it."

But there was no time to prod the Iraqis into action; it was getting late. So after the first wheelchair was assembled, Blauser and the American soldiers unpacked the remaining 31 and put them together with little assistance from the Iraqis.

continued....
washingtonpost.com

 

[justabubba]

yep, fighting for the freedom of a people who are unwilling to fight for it themselves

that's gonna work [/sarcasm]

 

[DamnYankee]

yep, fighting for the freedom of a people who are unwilling to fight for it themselves

that's gonna work [/sarcasm]

LOL! There's that reading problem again.... Dayum.... And the headline was in BOLD....

 

[editec]

You mean now that they don't hate us for our freedom?

Good question.

 

[DamnYankee]

You mean now that they don't hate us for our freedom?

Good question.

Gee.... You talkin' about the little people? Or the big people who are supposed to "take over" the job?

 

[editec]

I'm talking about the waste of American resources that the invbasion of Iraq was from day one to date.

 

[DamnYankee]

You mean now that they don't hate us for our freedom?

Good question.

Gee.... You talkin' about the little people? Or the big people who are supposed to "take over" the job?

I'm talking about the waste of American resources that the invbasion of Iraq was from day one to date.

Ohhhh..... I absolutely see how that relates to your original question....

 

[IF_Common_29]

The original question is worded wrong. Whose to say that they dont start taking care of themselves and completly fall apart. Did anybody think of that?
Think of the situation.
The american support is leaving. They have a new government. Terrorists throughout the country. And no one in that country knows how an economy works. And to top it all off they have an army that is fresh out the gates. So wat do u think wil happen?

 

[justabubba]

The original question is worded wrong. Whose to say that they dont start taking care of themselves and completly fall apart. Did anybody think of that?
Think of the situation.
The american support is leaving. They have a new government. Terrorists throughout the country. And no one in that country knows how an economy works. And to top it all off they have an army that is fresh out the gates. So wat do u think wil happen?

their culture subscribes to the rule of the strongest tribal leader

will that inclination subside in favor of following democratically elected officials, once we are no longer a significant presence to impose democratic action on them?

 

[IF_Common_29]

justabubba Quote: Originally Posted by IF_Common_29
The original question is worded wrong. Whose to say that they dont start taking care of themselves and completly fall apart. Did anybody think of that?
Think of the situation.
The american support is leaving. They have a new government. Terrorists throughout the country. And no one in that country knows how an economy works. And to top it all off they have an army that is fresh out the gates. So wat do u think wil happen?
their culture subscribes to the rule of the strongest tribal leader

will that inclination subside in favor of following democratically elected officials, once we are no longer a significant presence to impose democratic action on them?

Good point. I feel like the democracy that is newly created may last a while. But jus as a cover up. Or until someone takes power a terrorist group. Is there even a solution to Iraq?

 

[sealybobo]

'It's Time for the Iraqis to Step Up'
Local Forces' Conduct During Mission to Help Disabled Children Raises Questions About Future After U.S. Withdrawal

By Ernesto Londoño
Washington Post Foreign Service
Sunday, May 10, 2009

BAGHDAD -- Under the glare of a Humvee's headlights, Brad Blauser broke a sweat assembling a pediatric wheelchair as a small group of Iraqi soldiers observed quietly.

The idea was to train the Iraqis so that when the time came to distribute the wheelchairs, Blauser and the 20 or so U.S. soldiers who coordinated the giveaway could fade into the background as Iraqi troops presented 32 fully assembled wheelchairs to disabled children.

"We're trying to build rapport," said Staff Sgt. Craig Jackson, 34, of Pennsylvania, one of the squad leaders working with Blauser. "Show them that their government is trying to help its people."

But the mission in Fadhil, a predominantly Sunni neighborhood in Baghdad, showed quite the opposite. It raised questions that haunt U.S. troops as they prepare to pull out of Iraqi cities by June 30: When the Americans leave, how will the Iraqi forces behave? Will the billions of dollars and thousands of lives spent propping up and legitimizing the Iraqi government prove to have been a poor investment?

Thirty minutes into the assembly tutorial, the crowd of Iraqi soldiers thinned as curiosity gave way to boredom. Soon, Blauser, 43, found himself surrounded mainly by U.S. troops.

"What happened to all the people who were supposed to be helping put these together?" demanded Jackson, visibly irked. "We're not doing it."

But there was no time to prod the Iraqis into action; it was getting late. So after the first wheelchair was assembled, Blauser and the American soldiers unpacked the remaining 31 and put them together with little assistance from the Iraqis.

continued....
washingtonpost.com

We were wondering this for the last 5 years or so.

 

[DamnYankee]

'It's Time for the Iraqis to Step Up'
Local Forces' Conduct During Mission to Help Disabled Children Raises Questions About Future After U.S. Withdrawal

By Ernesto Londoño
Washington Post Foreign Service
Sunday, May 10, 2009

BAGHDAD -- Under the glare of a Humvee's headlights, Brad Blauser broke a sweat assembling a pediatric wheelchair as a small group of Iraqi soldiers observed quietly.

The idea was to train the Iraqis so that when the time came to distribute the wheelchairs, Blauser and the 20 or so U.S. soldiers who coordinated the giveaway could fade into the background as Iraqi troops presented 32 fully assembled wheelchairs to disabled children.

"We're trying to build rapport," said Staff Sgt. Craig Jackson, 34, of Pennsylvania, one of the squad leaders working with Blauser. "Show them that their government is trying to help its people."

But the mission in Fadhil, a predominantly Sunni neighborhood in Baghdad, showed quite the opposite. It raised questions that haunt U.S. troops as they prepare to pull out of Iraqi cities by June 30: When the Americans leave, how will the Iraqi forces behave? Will the billions of dollars and thousands of lives spent propping up and legitimizing the Iraqi government prove to have been a poor investment?

Thirty minutes into the assembly tutorial, the crowd of Iraqi soldiers thinned as curiosity gave way to boredom. Soon, Blauser, 43, found himself surrounded mainly by U.S. troops.

"What happened to all the people who were supposed to be helping put these together?" demanded Jackson, visibly irked. "We're not doing it."

But there was no time to prod the Iraqis into action; it was getting late. So after the first wheelchair was assembled, Blauser and the American soldiers unpacked the remaining 31 and put them together with little assistance from the Iraqis.

continued....
washingtonpost.com

We were wondering this for the last 5 years or so.

One would never know it, considering the absolute knee-buckling when it came to spending bills and oversight....

 

[TofuDog]

When will Iraqis be able to help themselves? Probably around the same time that they run out of oil.

 

[IF_Common_29]

Its hard for Iraq to take care of itself. It is surrounded by many hostile countries. And is filled with many terrorist groups. Has no economy. And doesn't have an army...well ok they do, but not very strong.
The true question is, when will the U.S. quit worrying about fighting in Iraq. And start using it as a strategic point in the middle east. Its a perfect place to set up military bases and air fields. And put supplies there.
Of course we would have to work a deal with the Iraq government. But id say they owe us for helping put Saddam out of power.
We need to start preparing for a war in the middle east. I know we kind of have one right now. But im not talking about some terrorist (run and gun) war. Im talking about all out warfare.
Some what of a war like WWII.

 

[TofuDog]

Its hard for Iraq to take care of itself. It is surrounded by many hostile countries. And is filled with many terrorist groups. Has no economy. And doesn't have an army...well ok they do, but not very strong.
The true question is, when will the U.S. quit worrying about fighting in Iraq. And start using it as a strategic point in the middle east. Its a perfect place to set up military bases and air fields. And put supplies there.
Of course we would have to work a deal with the Iraq government. But id say they owe us for helping put Saddam out of power.
We need to start preparing for a war in the middle east. I know we kind of have one right now. But im not talking about some terrorist (run and gun) war. Im talking about all out warfare.
Some what of a war like WWII.

We should drop all our nukes on the middle east and turn the whole place into a sheet of glass.

 

[johnrocks]

"we must maintain armed forces of sufficient strength to protect our freedoms; not to go out to protect somebody else, but to protect our freedoms" Barry Goldwater. That's how I feel too.

 

[IF_Common_29]

"we must maintain armed forces of sufficient strength to protect our freedoms; not to go out to protect somebody else, but to protect our freedoms" Barry Goldwater. That's how I feel too.

What we do next with Iraq is crucial for the U.S. The U.S. should use Iraq as a pawn. Turn it into a military country for the U.S. Set up air strips and military bases. Make it a major ally of the U.S. Prepare for future conflicts with other countries.

 

[DamnYankee]

"we must maintain armed forces of sufficient strength to protect our freedoms; not to go out to protect somebody else, but to protect our freedoms" Barry Goldwater. That's how I feel too.

What we do next with Iraq is crucial for the U.S. The U.S. should use Iraq as a pawn. Turn it into a military country for the U.S. Set up air strips and military bases. Make it a major ally of the U.S. Prepare for future conflicts with other countries.

So how'd that work out last time around?
The crimes of a U.S. ally
It's gonna be better now that Saddam is screwin' all those virgins?

 

[IF_Common_29]

"we must maintain armed forces of sufficient strength to protect our freedoms; not to go out to protect somebody else, but to protect our freedoms" Barry Goldwater. That's how I feel too.

What we do next with Iraq is crucial for the U.S. The U.S. should use Iraq as a pawn. Turn it into a military country for the U.S. Set up air strips and military bases. Make it a major ally of the U.S. Prepare for future conflicts with other countries.

So how'd that work out last time around?
The crimes of a U.S. ally
It's gonna be better now that Saddam is screwin' all those virgins?

Different situation. We didn't even use them as a military resource. We just wanted them for their oil. It was about the money. We also had just came out of a war with Korea and were getting ready to enter a war with Vietnam. Our military wasn't focused on Iraq as strongly as it is today. Today, things are starting to tighten up around the world. NK is testing nuclear weapons almost every day. They also have captured two american reporters. The taliban is giving Pakistan hell right now. And the situation in Afghanistan is getting any better. But, the U.S. (as of right now) has most of it's military based in Iraq. We also have helped them create a new government and put their old government to an end. Negociating with Iraq right now and asking them if we could set up military bases would be the smartest thing to do.

 

[Oddball]

So, when will Iraq take care of itself?

Maybe we could use the same model whereby Germany, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, etcetera started taking care of themselves.

Or, maybe not.......