Any Time We Want

Iraqi president Nouri al-Maliki, the man with the most thankless and difficult job in the world, was quoted yesterday as saying that his army and police were ready to step up and do the job, and that American troops can leave "any time they want."

While Mr Maliki was almost certainly speaking for domestic consumption and can't possibly be stupid enough to think that an Iraqi army and police force riddled with sectarian stresses can provide security, he has - however unwittingly - provided ammunition to those who advocate an immediate pullout of U.S. forces from that unhappy country.

Is this wise? I wish I knew. My gut tells me that if we leave, the knives will come out without any of the restraining influences of the U.S. forces and the bloodbath will dwarf anything we've seen yet. On the other hand, if we stay the violence will just percolate along at its current level of agony, slowly bleeding two nations dry.

On balance, I have to say that I think we should begin a speedy, but not precipitous pullout from Iraq. We've given them what Fouad Ajami has called "the foreigners' gift" - eliminated a dictator and provided time and space to build a new and better Iraq. The Iraqis, though, have used the gift not to provide for a better future, but to settle scores and pursue agendas. We don't need to keep providing them with excuses and targets for their hatred.

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell is credited with using the Pottery Barn analogy before the war - if you break it, you own it. Well, we've well and truly broken it...but we've also bought it with the blood and treasure expended over the last four years on a population unable or unwilling to use the gift we've provided. And once you've bought something, it's yours to do with pretty much as you want.

Mr al-Maliki says we can leave any time we want. I think it's time to call his bluff and see what happens. It will probably be worse...but then, it just might get better.

Have a good day. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo