`Bunker` mode for U.S. bases in Iraq

By Michael Gass, Section Diaries
Posted on Tue Sep 11, 2007 at 07:04:18 PM EST
Tags: Iraq war, John Edwards, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama (all tags)

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Kevin Drum at `The Washington Monthly` blog asks a very important question in his article, `REVOLT AT THE PENTAGON?`:

Second, even if the generals do stand their ground, can someone explain how this makes sense? We're not fixing things now even with 168,000 troops, and if we draw down we're supposedly going to unleash a massive civil war. So what are 50,000 troops in scattered outposts going to do while that's going on? Hunker down? Head out and get slaughtered? Evacuate? I just don't see how this makes any sense at all.

As Mr. Drum asks, what are 50,000 American troops scattered around Iraq at various Forward Operating Bases going to do?

From August until November, 2006, I was in Iraq. I traveled from Al Faw to Tikrit. I briefly visited the Forward Operating Bases (FOB) at Talil, Balad and Tikrit.

It is no secret by now that President Bush not only wants to occupy Iraq, but force regime change in Iran and Syria. By all indications, it will be by force, if necessary.

So, as Mr. Drum asks, what would a reduced American force in Iraq actually do, especially with the Iraqi opinion that attacking American soldiers is acceptable:

Fifty-one percent said they thought it was "acceptable" for "other people" to attack coalition forces. In the 2004 survey, 17 percent said such attacks were acceptable.

This March, 2007, poll is telling in its wording; `other people`. It is telling because the average Iraqi isn't inclined to violence against United States forces; but the militia's are a different story. Unlike the American bases in places like Germany, Japan, and Korea, the reality in Iraq is that you travel in Iraq without armed escort at your own peril.

The August, 2007, poll shows a few slight shifts in who the Iraqi's blame for the violence, however, the prevailing attitude of "leave now" rose:

Some 47% of respondents now back an immediate withdrawal, compared w