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IF I make a mistake, I admit it.

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They have made more progress much faster than we did, in terms of drafting a constitution.  You know keeping things in perspective and all.

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ORIGINAL: lronitulstahp

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They have made more progress much faster than we did, in terms of drafting a constitution.  You know keeping things in perspective and all.

Don't you think sometimes, the speed in drafting the constitution had more to do with getting the U.S "out of their hair" more than any actual intentions of keeping the ideas and standards in it?  The majority of the Iraqi people still see the U.S as interlopers.  The U.S backed constitution is worth little more than the paper on which it's written to the Sunni and Shiite warlords. No matter how long we stay there...they have basically been as they are idealogically, since  around 900 AD, and the audacity with which people think they can change their fundamental beliefs is boggling to me.

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ORIGINAL: dcnovice

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IF I make a mistake, I admit it.

Same here.

But it seems to be part of American politics that one doesn't admit mistakes. Not sure why that is, but I think it's an unfortunate tendency.

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ORIGINAL: Thadius

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ORIGINAL: lronitulstahp

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They have made more progress much faster than we did, in terms of drafting a constitution.  You know keeping things in perspective and all.

Don't you think sometimes, the speed in drafting the constitution had more to do with getting the U.S "out of their hair" more than any actual intentions of keeping the ideas and standards in it?  The majority of the Iraqi people still see the U.S as interlopers.  The U.S backed constitution is worth little more than the paper on which it's written to the Sunni and Shiite warlords. No matter how long we stay there...they have basically been as they are idealogically, since  around 900 AD, and the audacity with which people think they can change their fundamental beliefs is boggling to me.

There can be no arguing with the fact that the added security has allowed the Iraqis to focus on creating their own form of government, and that they are taking control and will soon be united enough to prevent outside forces (Iran) to install a puppet regime.  Leaving a power vacuum, would have lead to the same sort of thing we saw in Afghanistan.  The surge is a primary reason for this turn around in gaining control and bringing about that security.

Let's also not forget that just this past week that Anbar has been handed to Iraq control, the job is being done and soon we will no longer be needed, at least for security on the ground.  Iraq is and will be a sovereign nation.