Lots of things are happening regarding the war in Iraq. The Shiites and the Sunnis are at each others throats. They are on verge of civil war, perhaps closer now than they've ever been. Liberal Democrats like myself and many others have believed all along that things would come to this all along. We prayed it wouldn't but it has.

Last week in a "National Review" column, conservative philosopher William F. Buckley, wrote

One can't doubt that the American objective in Iraq has failed. The same edition of the paper quotes a fellow of the American Enterprise Institute. Mr. Reuel Marc Gerecht backed the American intervention. He now speaks of the bombing of the especially sacred Shiite mosque in Samarra and what that has precipitated in the way of revenge. He concludes that "the bombing has completely demolished" what was being attempted -- to bring Sunnis into the defense and interior ministries.

Glenn Greenwald of Unclaimed Territory puts together an incredibly well written attack against Buckley and other conservatives after many called Howard Dean a coward and other choice descriptors. He quotes President Reagan's son Michael:

"Howard Dean should be arrested and hung for treason or put in a hole until the end of the Iraq war!" Reagan told his Radio America audience on Monday. Reagan was reacting to Dean's comments earlier in the day, when the top Democrat said that the "idea that we're going to win the war in Iraq is an idea which is just plain wrong."

They were talking on NPR this morning about the whole situation in Iraq and some are beginning to say it took a leader like Saddam Hussein to keep the two groups from slaughtering each other out of hand. Working under this notion, one could easily examine the former Yugoslavia to see what happens. Marshall Tito ran the nation for years under communist regime. He was tough enough to tell old Joe to back off. He ran the nation with an iron hand. Soon after he died, things began to hall apart. Many remember the Olympics in Sarajevo. That was the high point. Shortly after, we began to remember why WWI started there. It fell apart and hasn't been together since.

Some may ask what should we do in Iraq. My thought at this point is I don't think it matters. They, for the most part have made their sentiments clear. They don't want and I will agree with Buckley, our presence continues to make things worse.

Technorati Tags: William F Buckley, Iraq, Glenn Greenwald, Marshall Tito

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