Comments on: UK Defense Secretary Talks Cheney And Iraq Failures http://donklephant.com/2007/05/03/uk-defense-secretary-talks-failures-and-cheney/ Big Teeth. Huge Ass. Surprisingly Reasonable. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:53:41 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: wj http://donklephant.com/2007/05/03/uk-defense-secretary-talks-failures-and-cheney/comment-page-1/#comment-320697 wj Fri, 04 May 2007 18:38:03 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2007/05/03/uk-defense-secretary-talks-failures-and-cheney/#comment-320697 It would have been entirely possible (not to mention sensible) to tell the Iraqi military: "Those who return to their barracks will continue to be paid. Those who continue to fight will continue to be shot." Which would have avoided leaving thousands of unemployed and armed young men rattling around the countryside. As for the Baath (as separate issue from the military), the obvious move there would have been to say: "Individuals who committed crimes/attrocities during the previous regime will be brought to trial as individuals. But we realize that mere membership in the Baath Party may be no more than a reflection of a requirement for a government post. So it will not, in itself, be a cause for action." Which would have left the governmental infrastructure (outside the secret police, etc.) in place and able to keep the country minimally functional. The Kurds would almost certainly have been willing to live with that level a "accomodation" to the members of the old regime. Especially if sanctions agains those who did perpetrate attrocities were actually forthcoming. And the Shiites likewise, as long as they got to move into the security services and other parts fo the government. What we actually did can only be described as massive, culpable stupidity. It would have been entirely possible (not to mention sensible) to tell the Iraqi military: “Those who return to their barracks will continue to be paid. Those who continue to fight will continue to be shot.” Which would have avoided leaving thousands of unemployed and armed young men rattling around the countryside.

As for the Baath (as separate issue from the military), the obvious move there would have been to say: “Individuals who committed crimes/attrocities during the previous regime will be brought to trial as individuals. But we realize that mere membership in the Baath Party may be no more than a reflection of a requirement for a government post. So it will not, in itself, be a cause for action.” Which would have left the governmental infrastructure (outside the secret police, etc.) in place and able to keep the country minimally functional.

The Kurds would almost certainly have been willing to live with that level a “accomodation” to the members of the old regime. Especially if sanctions agains those who did perpetrate attrocities were actually forthcoming. And the Shiites likewise, as long as they got to move into the security services and other parts fo the government.

What we actually did can only be described as massive, culpable stupidity.

]]> By: Jimmy the Dhimmi http://donklephant.com/2007/05/03/uk-defense-secretary-talks-failures-and-cheney/comment-page-1/#comment-320157 Jimmy the Dhimmi Thu, 03 May 2007 22:36:36 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2007/05/03/uk-defense-secretary-talks-failures-and-cheney/#comment-320157 Any attempt to integrate the Baath party into the military would have led to a defection by Kurdistan, and a boycot by shiites to sign up for the security forces. At least thats what Bremmer said, and though he was a f@#% up, I have no reason do doubt him on this. Any attempt to integrate the Baath party into the military would have led to a defection by Kurdistan, and a boycot by shiites to sign up for the security forces. At least thats what Bremmer said, and though he was a f@#% up, I have no reason do doubt him on this.

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