[The Times, U.K.]

Khaleej Times, United Arab Emirates

'Petraeus or Betray Us'

"The truth is that Iraq has become the center of the so-called war against terrorism only because of continuous bungling on the part of the protagonists."

EDITORIAL

September 12, 2007

United Arab Emirates - Khaleej Times - Original Article (English)

It's no surprise that General Petraeus' much-awaited report to Congress had nothing new in it. The loyal general expanded passionately on the White House line of the "surge succeeding," only to be met with a defiant audience dominated by Democrats - whose views were amplified in a recent full-page advertisement in The New York Times saying "General Petraeus or General Betray Us? "

The idea of a partial drawdown to bring the number of troops to pre-surge levels is just spin - a ploy for buying more time from Congress. This is a conclusion one reaches - especially if the next part of the narrative is taken into account - that the cuts won't fundamentally change the strategy of that unpopular war. In expecting its audience to accept this self-contradictory analysis, the Bush Administration betrays a continued dependence on little more than fancy rhetoric to appease lawmakers. For its position seeks to downplay rather than justify the controversial surge.

The Iraqi government's welcoming response to the general's account too comes as no surprise. It would make little sense for the war's frontline partners (the Bush White House, his senior military personnel, Maliki & Co) to appear at odds regarding such critical policy elements. But to what Baghdad owes its newfound optimism that it will soon be able to do without the U.S. military to conduct direct military operations is hard to fathom.

The truth is that Iraq has become the center of the so-called war against terrorism only because of continuous bungling on the part of the protagonists. It is therefore unfortunate that the participants still haven't realized that without a major shift in policy, the only trend is going to be a continuous nosedive.

President Bush's obsessive calls for remaining in Iraq would make sense if they came along with an equally passionate call for all parties to engage in an effort to halt the madness of violence. Yet strangely, those that continue to stick with him continue to advocate muscular policies with a determination that would be admirable, if one excludes the actual facts on the ground.

Once the Petraeus hearings run their course, Congress must renew its calls for a significant change or a sharp exit. Even if Iraq had been a chessboard rather than a real life battleground that features an orgy of death and destruction, the losses incurred would demand nothing but eliminating the king and accepting defeat.