The Coffeespy

The New York Times published the latest in a series of classified documents leaked to them from the government faucet.  Read about it on Bloomburg, sorry, I can’t support the Times having been a soldier at one point.  This one was written by Donald Rumsfeld to the President to urge changes in Iraqi policy.  Speculation, of course, is rampant.  Depending on who you read, it’s a revelation on the brilliance of the man or a coward trying to save what’s left of his reputation.  There are really only two important things to be looked at, though:

1) The USG needs to plug the dam before they drown themselves via the NYTimes, look at stopping it…

2) Look at the points themselves, these are the things that are getting the President’s ear…

One idea, in particular, jumped out at me:

Initiate an approach where U.S. forces provide security only for those provinces or cities that openly request U.S. help and that actively cooperate, with the stipulation being that unless they cooperate fully, U.S. forces would leave their province.

This approach is “tough love” in my book.  It doesn’t abandon the Iraqis and it makes them responsible by asking for the help they need.  The U.S. can’t be criticized for being occupiers if they’re officially invited, it reduces the vulnerability of troops by keeping them secured on bases or out of insurgent reach (an obvious side effect of not covering the whole country), and gives the troops a clear mission (Iraqi defined).

Having troops only where they’re requested leaves the country with a safety net.  If genocide begins, we’re already there.  If pulling out becomes necessary, we’re only pulling out of a few places vice the dozens of existing bases.  In ten years if the place is still screwed up, decade-long hindsight won’t let anyone say, “look how the U.S. screwed this country up,” because we told them, publicly, to ask for help if they need it.

We don’t quit, we put the ball in their court, and maybe we become a big brother to a fledgeling nation.  Most importantly, we only go where we’re wanted.  Responsibility is given to the Iraqis, mission is clarified for the U.S., self-determination with a fall-back plan is in place… I’m liking this.

The Moderate Voice has something to say about the press coverage that I believe is worth reading.

Michelle Malkin speaks on it in her Sunday postings.

The Scottish Right puts the Times coverage in the context of Murtha and motives.