Iraq In the Wake of the Surge
I've just received my copy of Michael Totten's new book, In the Wake of the Surge. Mike said he'd be happy to join us for a conversation about it, so if you'd like to order it and read it with me, we can invite him here for a discussion of it some time next week.
I haven't started it yet, but I did look at the first page, and this caught my eye:
So it goes in the Middle East, where almost nothing is as it appears on the surface. Most Westerners who live there and work there eventually learn this the hard way. Most American presidents have to learn this the hard way, as well, if they ever, in fact, learn it at all.
Oh, Mike, you Orientalist, you.
I suspect this dismaying piece by Ken Pollack will be an important companion to the book.
The civil war that engulfed Iraq in 2005–2006 was born mostly from a set of horrific circumstances created by an almost inconceivable parade of American mistakes. But Iraqi passions fueled the bloodletting. Indeed, part of the American success in quelling that conflict two years later came from reining in those passions.
Today, the fire of civil war has been rekindled. It is a small flame so far, just nibbling at the edges of the fabric of Iraq. It could be put out, probably quite easily. But the United States is withdrawing, and Iraq’s leaders sit in the middle of the rug, plotting, arguing, fixated on finding a way to knife one another in the back. No one is making a move to douse the flame. Instead, they blame one another and refuse to lift a finger to stop its slow, steady spread—even though all of them will be consumed if no one stops it.
I'll be curious to know what Mike thinks of Pollack's assessment.
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Aug '10
Re: Iraq In the Wake of the Surge
He has been spot on for most of the war. Now you ready to discuss the Iraqi Kurds ?
Edited on Aug 31, 2011 at 8:16pmMay '11
Re: Iraq In the Wake of the Surge
It is strange that you say that you have not started it yet but the Amazon link says that you said it grabbed you so quickly that you found yourself lost in it.
Edited on Aug 31, 2011 at 8:38pmJun '10
Re: Iraq In the Wake of the Surge
I guess, Middle Eastern Muslim politicians never get an "A" for effort from their countrymen, or a second chance. There's a big downside to playing the game that way. You have to be able to take a risk once in awhile. Americans (Obama may be the only exception to this) finally get it right after they've tried everything else.
Oct '10
Re: Iraq In the Wake of the Surge
The term dismaying is simply a grave reality. The political marketing of the situation will be proven short sighted and perhaps very haunting.
Wonder how this will play out in the history texts.
Edited on Aug 31, 2011 at 9:37pmNov '10
Re: Iraq In the Wake of the Surge
Southern Pessimist: that was Claires blurb for Totten's other book, Road to Fatima Gate.
Re: Iraq In the Wake of the Surge
It wasn't even one of those solicited blurbs--that comes straight from a spontaneous post on Ricochet.
Jun '10
Re: Iraq In the Wake of the Surge
Someone can correct me, but there's a saying in the region that goes something like this: "It takes a cousin to kill a brother. It takes a brother to kill a father." The bloodletting isn't just inter-tribal, it's inter-family as well. Is fratricide a byproduct of polygamy? Nothing is ever as it seems except for the constant bloodshed. I reckon hope isn't much of a basis for policy.
Aug '10
Re: Iraq In the Wake of the Surge
As many fathers are killing their daughters in that group, I would believe anything. Fratricide is a byproduct of barbarism.