Patrick Clawson
We should base our strategy for the future on the realities about Iraq's situation, not on our anger about how we got into this tight spot. The insurgents are now mostly killing Iraqi civilians, putting the lie to the claim their objection is to the U.S. presence; they want to restore Sunni minority rule. The new Iraqi forces are slowly taking over more responsiblity for security operations. The police no longer abandon their posts, and the military has light infantry units which can operate well alongside U.S. units. But more has to be done: the police are too much influenced by local warlords, and the military officers are still learning how to operate on their own, plus there is no air force yet to back up infantry units which get into trouble. Over the next few years, U.S. forces can be drawn down. As they leave, Iraq will remain a weak and fragile society with at best an imperfect democracy, but at least the vicious jihadists will be thwarted.
Patrick Clawson is Deputy Director of Research at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He is senior editor of the Middle East Quarterly.
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