Op-Ed Commentary

 

 

Our view: Democrats fumble already on Iraq

Not even 24 hours have elapsed since the Democratic Party's blowout of the
Republicans in the 2006 mid-term elections, yet the Democrats have already
fumbled the ball on the issue of Iraq. This morning Rep. Rahm Emanuel ( Dem.Il.) said his party would wait for James Baker and the congressional study group
recommendations on Iraq and the region. This unsatisfactory response has
now become a Democratic Party mantra for activists queried on Iraq.

This response on the biggest most important issue on foreign relations is unsatisfactory for three compelling reasons. First, Emanuel is imitating President Bush in hiding behind others instead of stepping forward to take command of policy. President Bush's favorite gambit is to hide behind his military commanders in Iraq.

When Bush is asked a tough question on Iraq, such as those on troop levels, he
immediately tosses the question to his military commanders, as though Iraq
was their war, and as thought they were responsible for the overall
political-military strategy. In reality, this responsibility lies with the
President, his national security advisor, and his secretary of State and
Defense.

Besides, Baker's findings have already been widely reported in the press.
It is certain that his final report will contain no magical "silver bullet"
on Iraq. This is particularly true because Baker's assessment reflects the
conventional wisdom on Iraq. Baker has made no effort to think outside the
box, which is precisely what is required at this point. In other words,
with a business as usual assessment, Baker will produce a business as usual
set of policy recommendations that will be useless.

Second, the clock is ticking on Iraq. The US-Iranian plan to dismantle
Iraq's central government is well underway. Also well underway is the
US-Iranian plan to redeploy US forces in Iraq to Baghdad, and to turn
Baghdad into the ultimate battleground for the future of Iraq. This seems
to be very good for Iran for a variety of reasons, but calamitous for US
forces (see Iran-Watch.com for detailed assessments).

In other words, Emanuel is making a big mistake by wasting time in
anticipation of Baker's full report. By doing so, Emanuel is leaving all
the action toIran, which is taking over southeastern Iraq and Basra, as well
as al-Qaeda, who is taking over Anbar province. Emanuel should pre-empt
these forces, not assist them by stepping back.

Third, by deferring to Baker, Emanuel is in reality deferring to President
Bush, who will ignore the Baker report in any case in favor of "stay the
course." Vice President Cheney has already made this perfectly clear before
the elections. Ambassador Khalilzad reinforced Bush's stay the course
strategy in remarks to the Iraqi people today (8 November).

Rep. Emanuel's decision to defer to Baker and Bush is curious as his first
big decision in the post-election transition era. By doing so, Emanuel will
only amuse President Bush by reinforcing Bush's attacks on the Democrats for
failing to provide a plan on Iraq.

In case Emanuel hasn't noticed, Iran is racing ahead to impose a partition
plan on Iraq (for details, see "Will Bush 'Cut and Run' in Iraq and Latin
America?" Persian Journal, 7 November). This Iranian plan is exceedingly
dangerous because it will ignite full scale civil war in Iraq with US forces
trapped in the middle. Is this what Rep. Emanuel wants, and is this is why
he is deferring to Bush?

Emanuel, is a two-term congressman from Chicago, and chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the man responsible for recruiting many of the candidates who will give control of the House to the Democrats in January, but in Iraq issues it seems to be a flunky.

In sum, Iran is setting a trap for Bush, and Bush in turn is setting a trap
for the Democrats with his offer of consultations on Iraq. Rep. Emanuel is
walking directly into these traps by deferring to Baker and Bush on policy
and by failing to offer his own plan. This is no way for the US to win or
for the Democrats to prosper in 2008.

Petroleumworld

 

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Petroleumworld 11/09/06

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