How To Get Out Of Iraq: A Non-Violent Exit Strategy

A full year ago, when the US-led forces invaded Iraq, I said in this Blog that the neo-conservative ideologues who promoted the war would ensure a continuing state of chaos, if not Civil War, to justify their presence for many years to come. Whether intentionally or not, this appears to be happening.

The White House claims that "soveriegnty" will be handed over to the Iraqis on June 30th, 2004. Robert Fisk, The Independent's man in Baghdad, looks at how little sovereignty the Iraqis will actually have after 30 June 2004. Iraq, he concludes, will remain under Anglo-American occupation:

"For what is going to happen on 30 June is not a "handover" of power. We are going to see a mythical "sovereignty" handed to American-paid and sponsored Iraqis who will do Washington's bidding. And favoured for the future US "ambassador" in Iraq is none other than Paul Wolfowitz, the neo-conservative pro-Israeli academic who is a member of the US administration and one of the "hawks" who encouraged the whole disastrous US invasion of Iraq."

He notes that Iraqi police are already wearing shades and even black hoods to protect their identities. These black hoods, he says, will be the face of the new "sovereign" Iraq, while any who resist them will be branded "terrorists." It does not look like much of a future for ordinary Iraqis, even if they do eventually get their promised 24/7 electricity and countless reconstruction projects (plus the hugely inflated national deficit required to fund them) in return for their sufferance.

So what is the answer? It's very simple: GET OUT! NOW!

It really is that simple. Pull out the US-led troops as quickly as possible and let the Iraqis govern themselves. This is the only way to ensure anythink like a respectable "exit strategy" for this whole sorry misadventure.

Of course, the neo-cons and their CNN-watching supporters will cry that we cannot do that, that the whole country will collapse into anarchy, chaos and civil war. That it will become a haven for terrorists and spread instability across the Middle East. Et cetera, et cetera. So here is my easy six-step strategy for a fast and painless withdrawal:

1. Bush goes live on TV to apologize to the US public, the Iraqi people, the United Nations, and the world. He admits that the invasion was a huge mistake, that the WMDs did not, do not and never will exist, that Saddam was not connected with 9/11, Al-Quaeda, or any other kinds of terrorists and that he was either misled by his own staff or intentionally assisted in the greatest political fraud in history. He declares that the USA will withdraw all its troops as soon as possible, and that those responsible for the war - including himself - will be held accountable in an international court of law. The USA also pledges to wipe all post-invasion Iraqi foreign debt and pay for all costs involved in rebuilding the country.

2. US forces in Iraq immediately cease construction of new military bases. All foreign contractors are withdrawn and all reconstruction projects are placed on hold, pending renogotiation with an internationally recognized Iraqi government.

3. The UN urgently creates an Iraq stabilization force, which does not include troops from any countries that were involved in the war.

4. US invites all major religious and tribal leaders to a televised handover ceremony in the Royal Palace. The Iraqi leaders call upon their followers to remain calm and allow the US forces to leave the country without further violence.

5. All non-UN foreign troops withdraw from the country. UN units work closely with the tribal and religious leaders to ensure any local outbreaks of violence are quelled.

6. Iraqis work out the rest for themselves. That's right - it's up the THEM to come up with the rest of it, not us...