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Opinion

Solution to ending Iraq war not simple

Isaiah Warner 
Opinion Colmunist

Comparisons of Iraq to Vietnam are as common as President Bush's oratorical missteps. These comparisons are wrong and only obfuscate the situation on the ground. A slow responding Hurricane Katrina-like policy will not work in the Middle East, and Iraq is not Arabic for Vietnam.

The cause of strife in Iraq is not a simple one. Warring factions of Islam are creating a civil war within Iraq. As Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds engage in relentless sectarian violence, we must realize they are not fighting for their country or democracy. In their minds, they are fighting for Allah. American troops should not be in the middle of a holy war. Putting our troops' safety first is the best way to support them. 

Any talk of removing a single U.S. soldier is immediately painted as cutting and running, much like the withdrawal of troops from Vietnam. Although the Republican spin machine may have won the Oscar for "Best Catch Phrase in a Misleading Civil War," the GOP has no coherent plans for success in Iraq. 

Sen. John McCain advocates increasing U.S. troops by a few hundred thousand as the way to win Iraq. McCain's proposal is not feasible; we do not have a few hundred thousand troops available for combat. 

In addition, McCain's unrealistic approach to Iraq will make him a sitting duck in the 2008 presidential contest. No independent voter will support a candidate who has no plan to get the country out of the quicksand. 

When the war began, the GOP had no plan to win the peace in Iraq. As years have passed and casualties have mounted, it still has no plan to achieve peace. The more things change, the more they stay the course.

Democrats must rally behind the premise of a phased redeployment. 

They must clearly explain that Iraq requires "fresh eyes" and that staying the course will accomplish nothing but an increase in the production of flag draped coffins. Finally, they must attack the baseless argument that a phased redeployment will turn Iraq into Vietnam. 

As Sen. Barack Obama said, we have no good options in Iraq. Basing the most important foreign policy decision of the past 30 years upon the logic of 30 years ago will lead to the failures of 30 years ago.

Warner, the UH Young Democrats President, 
can be reached via dccampus@mail.uh.edu