Iraq + Solution =

It seems a bit pompous to say but unless I've overlooked something the idea of solving the Iraq quagmire and making ALL parties concerned agreeable is this: A vote. By the citizens of Iraq themselves.

The term 'democracy' has been bandied about by all the pundits and talking heads to the point I believe there are lots of them who don't even know what it is they're saying anymore. Amusingly we have seen less of the term since Hamas were elected, democratically. "We're trying to establish Democracy in Iraq" "The birth of Democracy in the Middle East." Here's your chance to practice a little more of this 'mob rule' and see what citizenry there want to have happen in their country.

Scenario 1: Purple Voting fingers propose the Allies Leave Immediately.
American Left Pols: We've been saying this for YEARS! 'Told ya so!'
American Right Pols: Our party can save face and finally get our guys in Iran, where they belong.

Scenario 2: Purple Voting fingers propose the 'occupation' remain until Iraq is confident it can handle it's own defense providing benchmarks are attained.
American Left Pols: Now we can focus on our domestic socialist issues without having to pander to the fringe of our base. Job security, boys and girls.
American Right Pols: The people have spoken and our original plan has now been justified. In your face big media!


Certainly the issues involved are far more complex than the above illustration but after the fog is cleared a mandate for action, or inaction, is clearly stated by those who have to endure the literal explosion of their loved ones. Whether allied forces there have been a benediction or a curse can be argued by historians but in the meantime a real plan has developed endorsed by those who have to live under and amidst the ramifications. Additionally, I like the idea of putting Iraqis to the test and removing the overwhelming amount of opinion generators in media outlets everywhere telling us what the population there want.

Had Libertarians had enough strength in the American political landscape there would be no issue of whether to stay or leave since their policy of non-intervention would not have brought us there in the first place. Instead our military would be focusing on picking off Al-Qaida like ducks at an amusement park under whichever rock they tried to hide. We were attacked on 911 by a group without borders or boundaries. Nation-states sympathetic to their cause would not be so bold as to harbor them since the US would dictate, yes dictate, that wherever they go we'll be right behind 'em and be bringing a giant can of whoop-ass with us. I would imagine the Iranian & Syrian pucker-factors hovering near 9 should we have taken this alternative and preferable course of action.