Bases for Withdrawal

Well, I for one have been deliberately keeping my head out of the sands of Iraq lately. The situation has become a hellish nightmare that deteriorates daily. Civil war does not remotely encapsulate the sense of utter chaos and violence roiling there. I haven’t the stomach for it but, as an American, that stance seems irresponsible. There are “vectors of doom” aplenty to anguish the soul: Darfur, AIDS, Global Warming, Human Trafficking, Depleted Uranium, Land Mines, etc. But this crisis is essentially homegrown in that we started it. We* illegally occupied a sovereign country unprovoked and irreparably mucked up the works. We made this mess so what are we going to do to clean it up?

Now the Iraq Study Group report is published and that part of the world blips back to front and center. Within days the report has soared to No. 18 on Amazon.com and is already into a second printing. Apparently, a lot of people are as interested as I am to see some things spelled out, finally, after years of the most inexcusably murky reporting on this war. The report is available to read at: http://www.bakerinstitute.org/Pubs/iraqstudygroup_findings.pdf

It is interesting to skim through it just to glean some details about the different warring factions which give a little insight into what’s unfolding. Anatomy of a Quagmire. Stressing a renewal of diplomatic ties and talks with Iran and Syria is all good. A proposal to recommit to resolving the Israeli/Palestinian conflict is a no-brainer. Talk is good but it’s cheap. Actions speak louder than words.

After the dissection of strategies come recommendations and what’s put forward doesn’t sound particularly effective. Courageously creative solutions are called for here. Not the same shit on a different bun. The powers that be should be mining minds in every quarter for innovative ideas. Asking Americans. Asking Iraqis. Asking elders. Asking women. We need something extraordinary, wise and ultimately healing. If we are honest about wanting resolution, that is. The real solution will not be military or political. It will involve new more humane tactics. Honesty, compromise, understanding.

Beyond the more complicated issues of addressing the rage and despair Iraqis must feel, exposing the hidden politics of this war and understanding the various cultural and religious perspectives that would necessarily inform any comprehensive solution, there seems to be some basic stuff left out of the equation. For instance, the fact that most Iraqis absolutely want the US to get the hell out (WorldPublicOpinion.org) and yet we have 14 major military bases strategically constructed throughout Iraq along major waterways and roadways. I mean BIG bases. What does that say to the average Iraqi about out true intentions?

The “super base” Barad Air Base north of Baghdad is run by our favorite Halliburton and houses over 28,000 troops and 8,000 civilian contractors who enjoy amenities such as a movie theater, miniature golf, fast food a la Pizza Hut, Burger King, Starbucks, etc., giant airstrip and full-sized swimming pool all surrounded by a monolithic wall of impenetrability. Speaks volumes.

Or the massive $600 million US Embassy currently being built in Baghdad, due for completion June 2007. When finished it will be the “largest, most secure diplomatic compound in the world”. It’s said it will be two-thirds the area of the National mall in Washington, D.C.. A 21-building compound sealed off from the surrounding area by massive walls. Inside residents will enjoy a swimming pool, gym, fast food court, beauty and barber shops, a school, apartment buildings, locker rooms, warehouse, vehicle maintenance garage, etc. All this to be self-sustained with water, electricity and sewage treatment plants independent of Baghdad's city utilities. Most Iraqis get about 2 hours of electricity a day from their disabled infrastructure and none of them are swimming in chlorinated pools. Do they even have clean drinking water?

There are no words.

Our continuing presence in Iraq is just one more reason for the violence. The most fundamental first step: Pull out completely.

* Not forgetting how many of “us" knew invading Iraq was a hell of a bad idea long before we went in. How did "we" know this so certainly all those years ago? Could it have been as simple as basic information, common sense and good old-fashioned people skills? It's good to be able to tell if you're being sold a load of bull. Or phantom WMDs. To hear some interesting and heartwrenching firsthand accounts direct from Iraq, check out: AliveInBaghdad.org

Photo:The swimming pool at Balad Air Base, as seen through the window of a Black Hawk helicopter.