One of the clearest and sanest assessments of our mistakes but also our potential in liberated Iraq is Jim Hoagland’s piece in the Washington Post today. Money quote:
Vietnam shaped the cautious-to-pessimistic strategic outlook for a generation of American military leaders that included Colin L. Powell, who popularized the concept of never engaging abroad without overwhelming force, clear political aims and preconceived exit strategies. Now, the worldview of a new generation of commanders is being formed in Iraq’s deserts, mountains and cities in a still uneven attempt at nation-building.
These generals are making their own exit strategy as they go. They see that the overriding U.S. goal must be to make Iraq into a country that works — without several U.S. Army divisions stationed here. Otherwise, in the Sunni heartland in particular, the U.S. Army risks turning into an occupying force regarded with hostility and suspicion while its own demoralized troops long to return home.
Read the whole thing.
The Dish 