But when is the USA going to learn that military action doesn't work? It might be a better situation if the USA armed forced weren't so inept. Whilst they might be able to blast countries out of existence they have no chance in a street fight. Whilst G W Bush may not be to blame for all Iraq's woes he is to blame for the USA being in Iraq. Whatever the previous situation in Iraq the invasion was based on lies, lies and more lies. The Bush administration will probably be remembered for its lies, stupidity, a complete ignorance of foreign affairs and rampant self interst. No excuses will change that.

Good on you, Davy, for keeping your mind on the lawful side, even though you're sure to be called a left wing loonie by most of our OLO's.

It is well for us to remember that that our initial attack on Iraq, was to save the Shia's from persecution by Saddam's Sunnis, the so-called triumphant Surge having enabled the same Sunnis to be now pretty well placed on the US payroll with an agreement signed between Bush and the Iraqi Shaiks.

Let's hope Obama has the commonsense to scientifically analyse the whole Middle East situation since the end of WW2, especially with Nixon allowing Israel to go militarily nuclear rather than using UN backed Western forces to protect Israel's future, as was so much pointed out by the US Minister of State, Henry Kissinger at the time.

Obama will thus have to be very careful about carrying on
using the old rebacked up Sunni enmity against Iran, which could easily bring Russia into such a war, and even China.

Cheers with added Seasonal Compliments,

BB, Buntine, WA.

Hi Daviy... well I'm encouraged to see such wisdom here.. after all.. people like Al Qaeda can always be won over with a chunk of bread, a slap on the back and a good ol "She'll be right mate".

Further.. the Sunni/Shia problems will simply evaporate in the light of the tremendous good will created by America just laying down it's weapons..giving them all a big smile and withdrawing unilaterally and apologizing for all the trouble they have caused.

I'm looking forward to all this 'world peace' Daviy and Bushy..and I'm so happy to see such insight and depth of thinking coming from at least SOME on OLO..

After all.. We are all sick of those evil right wingers.. those bigoted, Islamophobic religious conservatives...and various other nutters who cannot see how right Daviy is....

Once again Daviy..THANK you for your wonderful input.
Keep up the good work.

Yay! Ring the bells and sound the trumpets! A new year and a new BD!

Look everybody:
"I'm looking forward to all this 'world peace' Daviy and Bushy..and I'm so happy to see such insight and depth of thinking coming from at least SOME on OLO..

After all.. We are all sick of those evil right wingers.. those bigoted, Islamophobic religious conservatives...and various other nutters who cannot see how right Daviy is....

Once again Daviy..THANK you for your wonderful input.
Keep up the good work."

For the first time ever BD has written a post of genuine goodwill on earth and peace to all! With the added bonus of personal insight! Oh frabjous day - a post that his usual detractors will be able to agree with.

Oh, keep up the good work indeed, BD!

Indeed, Romany. O frabjous day indeed - Calloo! Callay!

Porky: << We are all sick of those evil right wingers.. those bigoted, Islamophobic religious conservatives...and various other nutters >>

Amen to that!

The doctrine of pre-emption used to justify the Iraq invasion has been demonstrated to be legally and morally corrupt.

My take on this article is that the Iraq debacle is like eating a sh** sandwich with some icing sugar sprinkled on it. No matter what kind of positive spin you put on it, no matter how many "positives" you can identify after the fact, you're still eating a sh** sandwich