Max Boot Column in WSJ

WSJ.com Opinion Journal
AT WAR Surging Ahead in Iraq The new strategy can work. But Washington has to give it time.
BY MAX BOOTTuesday, May 15, 2007 12:01 a.m.

Max Boot wrote- many commentators and politicians will write off the surge as a failure. Many are already doing so, even though the Baghdad Security Plan is barely three months old.

No Mr. Boot, the Baghdad Security Plan is over four years old!


Boot wrote- An article in USA Today reported on a Pentagon-funded study which confirms what military historians already know--an average insurgency can run for a decade, but most fail in the end.

And they failed without the help of the United States, so good. Let this one fail to, without our help.

Boot wrote- The far more likely consequence would be an all-out civil war. Not only would this be a humanitarian tragedy for which the U.S. would bear indirect responsibility.

"Indirect" responsibility. Wrong. The "Decider" and his followers would bear responsibility. Not me!

Boot wrote- If we are seen as the losers in Iraq, al Qaeda would be seen as the winner. The perception of American weakness fed by a pullout would lead to increased terrorism against the U.S. and our allies, just as occurred following our withdrawal from Somalia in 1993 and from Beirut in 1983.

What were we doing in Somalia and Beirut? Making more enemies! If al Qaeda becomes a winner does that mean they will take over the world? No. It means they will have many enemies. If the U.S. becomes a winner does that mean we will take over the world? No. It means we will have many enemies.

Boot wrote- In the ensuing chaos, it is quite possible that al Qaeda terrorists would succeed in turning western Iraq into a Taliban-style base for international terrorism.

"Quiet possible"? I guess it is possible. So what. Terrorism against who? Will they attack Mexico, a nation filled with infidels? Will they attack Vatican City, the head of a large nation of infidels? Why do they only attack the U. S. and other European countries. What is different about the United States' foreign policy and the foreign policy of that infidel country, Mexico? When you figure that out Mr. Boot, you will know why they hate the U. S. Let them concentrate in Iraq. Then we will know where they are and we can bomb the hell out of them. That's the American way. Right?

Boot wrote- Although the momentum at the moment is running against al Qaeda in Anbar Province, the tribal forces who are now cooperating with the Iraqi government would be incapable of defeating al Qaeda on their own.

Not true. What will be the downfall of any insurgent group is the lack of local support.

Boot wrote- It's still possible to stave off catastrophic defeat in Iraq. But the only way to do it is to give Gen. Petraeus and his troops more time--at least another year--to try to change the dynamics on the ground. The surge strategy may be a long shot but every alternative is even worse.

A withdrawal does not mean defeat, especially a "catastrophic" defeat. Such alarmist adjectives you war lovers use! Give Petraeus more time, then a year from now you will create a new reason to keep your empirical illusions alive and fight Israel's six decades long religious war. And no, every alternative is not worse.

Mr. Boot, try to imagine how a group of young Muslim men feel when the handsome American troops in their clean and well fitted uniforms with their high tech gear and their fashionable wrap around sun glasses, invade the men's homes and humiliate the men in front of their women. The Arab society is a patriarchal society where humiliation in front of women carries a heavy sting. American men have been desensitized so much they do not feel humiliated in front of women. American men expect to be denigrated in front of their women. America has become a matriarchal society. But the young Arab men who see their fathers, sons, and brothers humiliated, sit around after the Americans leave, and their envy and resentment starts to boil their passions. They plot revenge, and when they go to their Mosque, they pray to Allah to help them kill, not a Mexican, not a Swiss, not a Venezuelan, but, an American.

Charles Tolleson