Friday, December 8

Dullard Study Group releases report

The long-awaited findings of the Dullard Study Group (a blue-ribbon panel made up of Ange and Franko) are being officially released. Here's the Dullard take on what to do in Iraq:

INTRODUCTION: We're in a real jam here. What else do you need to know?

RECOMMENDATIONS: We don't have a lot of options, but go like this:

1. Tell the Iraqi government that our military and our money — indeed, our patience as well as the lives of our troops — are exhausted. The Maliki government has a limited amount of time (say a year) to get its act together. That means no more bickering and no more corruption. We need to make it clear that the U.S. will no longer "babysit" (and therefore enable) a civil war. Otherwise, we are out of there. This is not cutting and running; it is requiring accountability from what has become a welfare state. Deadlines will motivate that government to act to end the deadly blood feuds and death squads.

2. Convene an international conference to consider the partition of Iraq into Kurd, Shiite and Sunni semi-autonomous states, similar in shape and size to the "no fly" zones of the 1990s. (This will require assurances to Turkey that a Kurdish state will not be carved into Turkish territory.) Perhaps the U.N. is willing to help implement this if a salesman such as Bill Clinton succeeds outgoing ambassador John Bolton.

3. When that is done and all U.S. troops are home, create a Truth and Reconcilation Commission in Washington (similar to the 9/11 panel, but with prosecutorial powers) to look at the war's planning, execution and aftermath. Possible outcomes include corruption charges and rebates to U.S. taxpayers to make up for fraud and waste.

CONCLUSION: So who is with us?

No comments: