Stuck in 1979
“In fact, getting out now may be our only chance to set things right in Iraq. For starters, if we withdraw, European politicians would be more likely to cooperate with us in a strategy for stabilizing the greater Middle East. Following a withdrawal, all the countries bordering Iraq would likely respond favorably to an offer to help stabilize the situation.”
No, really, he’s serious.
From the people who brought you the Ayatollah Khomeini, the Iran Hostage Crisis, the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, the Sandinistas, The Rose Garden Strategy, the misery index and Robert Mugabe…comes “Cut and Run? You Bet.” the strategy of the people who…uh, failed at everything.
Former Zbigniew Brzezinski aide, William Odom, adds some levity to the Iraq debate in the latest issue of Foreign Policy in advocating an immediate withdrawal from Iraq.
Among the howlers in Odom’s article are “[Iran] dislikes al Qaeda as much as we do.”
He have been too busy bidding on Foghat memorabilia to read the 9-11 Commission Report:
“In late 1991 or 1992, discussions in Sudan between al Qaeda and Iranian operatives led to an informal agreement to cooperate in providing support-even if only training-for actions carried out primarily against Israel and the United States. Not long afterward, senior al Qaeda operatives and trainers traveled to Iran to receive training in explosives.”
On the topic of whether a rapid withdrawal would undermine U.S. Credibility, Odom quips:
“A rapid reversal of our present course in Iraq would improve U.S. credibility around the world. The same argument was made against withdrawal from Vietnam. It was proved wrong then and it would be proved wrong today.”
As we all remember, the height of America’s credibility in the world was in the 1970’s.
On on the proposition of Nuclear Iran, Odom’s dry wit crackles to life:
“If its leaders really want nuclear weapons, we cannot stop them. But we can engage them.”
Odom must look back at the 444 glorious days of successful engagement of Iran as the pinnacle of American foreign policy.
Perhaps someone should send Odom this book.