Nick Gillespie: it's in the long-run occupation, btw, that bush's failure to put together a truly international coalition is really screwing the pooch.
Nick Gillespie: it allows for all sorts of problems to creep into any movement toward democracy. it allows insurgents to be "anti-American" instead of anti-democracy.
Nick Gillespie: and it leaves any number of potential allies without a rooting interest.
Judd Legum: It is more harmful. For two reasons: 1. our indefinite presence de-incentives the Iraqis for taking control themselves and 2. we are targets
Judd Legum: I wouldn't say the "elected Iraqi government" wants us to stay. Many of them have said we should leave
Judd Legum: and the people of Iraq overwhelmingly want us to set a timeline for withdrawal
Edward Morrissey: Nick, what's your criterion for a truly int'l effort?
Edward Morrissey: Because we have had a number of countries involved in this effort.
Nick Gillespie: i think the first gulf war was unjustified -- or rather, the u.s. presence there was unjustified -- but the coalition that bush the elder put together was truly international, including even a number of neighboring countries.
Nick Gillespie: ed, the "coalition" this time around is a joke. it's the u.s. and, to some degree, the u.k. and that's it.
Edward Morrissey: Australia, South Korea, Italy, Poland, and Japan (in a support role) ... all had significant troops in Iraq.
Nick Gillespie: we're talking troops in the hundreds, ed. come on.
Edward Morrissey: Australia had thousands of troops there. Italy had thousands of troops there!
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