Thursday, December 15, 2011
Iraq: Mission Over (Sort of)
Of course, the historic semi-end to the American involvement in Iraq shouldn't be confused with the historic mission-accomplished pronouncement in 2003. ... Then again, maybe they're just one in the same. ... After reluctantly supporting the war in 2003, I've long since concluded it was a strategic and tragic distraction and mistake. There were some definite pluses to the invasion. Chief among them: The fall of Saddam. But it cost more than it was worth. All these years later, the failure to find WMD in Iraq still rankles. All these years later, the inept pre-invasion occupation plans, if you can call them that, still astound. All these years later, the initial denial that we were involved in a full-fledged guerilla war still frustrates. Add it all up, and today's events are bittersweet.
Of course, the historic semi-end to the American involvement in Iraq shouldn't be confused with the historic mission-accomplished pronouncement in 2003. ... Then again, maybe they're just one in the same. ... After reluctantly supporting the war in 2003, I've long since concluded it was a strategic and tragic distraction and mistake. There were some definite pluses to the invasion. Chief among them: The fall of Saddam. But it cost more than it was worth. All these years later, the failure to find WMD in Iraq still rankles. All these years later, the inept pre-invasion occupation plans, if you can call them that, still astound. All these years later, the initial denial that we were involved in a full-fledged guerilla war still frustrates. Add it all up, and today's events are bittersweet.
