What's good for the Iraqi goose ...

I was listening to NPR yesterday, and caught an interview with a female member of the Iraqi parliament (unfortunately, I did not catch her name). The question was raised about the current Congressional (and public) debate over "progress", or lack thereof, in Iraq, and she said something along the lines of "That's not something we can worry about here. We have to concern ourselves with waht's best for Iraq and Iraqis. That's an issue for Congress and America to deal with."

The above quote is not exact, it's my best recollection of her words (unfortunately, I couldn't get the exact wording written down and drive at the same time), but I am certain the gist is correct.

She's right, of course. As a representative of the Iraqi people she (and all members of the Iraqi parliament) has a responsibility to place the well-being of Iraqi's and her country ahead of issues raised by other nations, including our own.

However, the reverse is also true. We often hear how if we leave Iraq now, the place will devolve into even more violence (a debatable proposition at best -- most Iraqis think violence would decrease if U.S. forces left, and they are in the best position to know), how we have to give the Iraqi government a chance to stabilize, etc. Throw in the ridiculous "if we don't fight them there we'll just have to fight them here" argument, and those are the primary reasons given for continuing the war there.

Maybe we need to learn from the Iraqi interviewee. Our representatives, both in Congress and the White House, have a responsibility to place the interests of our citizens and our nation ahead of the concerns of other nations (including Iraq) and their citizens. When taking into account whether we should stay or go, the issue of increased violence or even civil war in Iraq may simply be something they need to work out. To steal a phrase, "Thats something for Iraqis and their parliament to deal with".

It's long past time to go. It's increasingly obvious those benchmarks which are suppose to be met by September are not going to be close to completed ... at which time the administration will come up with some reason why we need to wait yet another six months. Left to their devices, it will never end.

Talk to the Kurds. Try to cut a deal with them where we will post two brigades there to help ensure their sovereignty in return for them actively looking to shut down Kurdish groups launching raids and promoting attacks in Turkish territory. If the Kurds don't go for that, let them fend for themselves. Then let things work themselves out ... could hardly go worse than things are going now.