Democrats have to develop an Iraq exit strategy

[chieftain]

There should be no more talk about sending more troops but we have to present a credible alternative to " stay the course" on one hand and "cut and run" on the other.
Our goal should be avoid a failed state in Iraq.
I suggest that we call a regional peace conference under the auspices of the UN. Iran, Syria, Turkey and other Arab nations should be invited.
The US will have to renounce any basing rights in the country, rescind any deals made during the Occupation giving preferences to US oil interests, kick Halliburton and other crooks and hangers on out of the country and establish a timetable for a phased withdrawal of Allied troops to be replaced by an Arab peace keeping force.
This will result in a substantial increase in power and prestige for Iran, Syria and others and it will come at US expense. It will also likely result in the de facto partition of what had been an artificial country
But it may be the only way to get our forces out without the tragedy and spectacle of having to fight our way out of a cake walk.
This may not be the best of plans, but it does contain elements that could salvage a horrendous situation that inevitably will get worse.
Someone on the Left is going to have to have the courage of proposing this or something that credibly get our troops home and not leave the Middle East in shambles.

[Mountainman]

1. We already have one. First we have to have a president that can work

with the rest of the world and get their support. Then we build a consensus and replace our troops with UN forces, peace keepers. Call for a cease fire and in an effective way turn the country and it's oil over to the Iraqis.

This is what Kerry said I think.

[Beaver Tail]

3. Mountainman

This is probably the best way out.

To just pull out all troops risks the fundamentalist getting control and to stay will kill more US soldiers.

[chieftain]

4. As much as I like Kerry, I don't think he had any significant

role for Iran or Syria. They have to be part of this and whether we have a peace conference or just leave, they will move into the vacuum. I want Democrats in the forefront of proposing something that has a chance of working. Kerry's emphasis was on getting NATO to shoulder more of the burden. We are going to have to look to people we don't like to do this not our allies.

[magellan]

2. We can't avoid a failed state in Iraq; we're there already

There is simply no sense in continuing to offer our soldiers up as martyrs to a lost cause.

[UDenver20]

5. GREAT POINT....

We can't just be bush bashers... (even though it is a lot of fun...)

We must.... MUST.... provide an alternative.

Dems STILL need to craft and communicate a message that John Q Public can (1) hear, (2) understand, (3) support.

Its all about framing.

[chieftain]

6. Thanks. The RW is busy framing this as those who have

the courage to stay the course versus those cowardly Liberals who want to cut and run. We must have an alternative and we cannot cede the debate to either the Repubs or DLC who are on the wrongest horse of all i.e. we should send more troops to Iraq. God save us from our friends.

[FrenchieCat]

7. The US had to untie the financial stranglehold on Iraq....

and that will be a great start in other countries wanting to participate...and Iraqis will also feel like they have a stake in the future of their own country. Freedom means financial freedom too. Currently the level of unemployment in Iraq is obcene...for a country in need of so much rebuilding. But instead, Bush & Co. have "contractors" from everywhere but Iraq in there making money.

The truth of the matter is that the US is currently raping Iraq financially...and everyone knows it (Europe included)....hence the resistance and the resentment. I mean, first we invade unprovoked....and then we loot and steal. That's part of what's causing the most harm, and killing our soldiers.

Wes Clark has a plan that unties those financial strings along with working with Iraq's neighbors to assist in making Iraq stable among a great many other things.

Those who want to read it, PM me. I don't want to overtly "boost" The General today. Not in the mood of being criticized for it.

[leesa]

8. Send in transport planes and go. The UN takes over to help the Iraqis

regain their footing. Of curse ALL US companies need to leave and we need to pay reparations for the next hundred years.

[thoughtanarchist]

9. Let them carve it up...

Carve up Iraq into the regional ethnic states. This seems to be what the Iraqis want...

It seems like the greatest risk of collapse or escalating violence related to our withdrawal would stem from ethnic groups jockeying for power in the federal system we're foisting upon them. Let them carve up into regional states and I think the violence will diminish even as we pull out.

we know the Kurds want autonomy in the north.
we know the shiites want autonomy in the south.
that leaves a central region for sunnis.
All they need is a treaty to ensure oil revenues are shared among these groups and representation in a ministry to provide oversight to the oil industry.

Once autonomy in each region is achieved, these states can handle their own affairs without outside intervention.

-- Shiites Call for Own State in South
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/11/AR2005081101791.html


As they negotiate the details, our troops can pull back to the former "no-fly" zones and watch from the sidelines, to be available for a brief period as diplomatic referees to promote a fair process.