Surge No - Splurge Si

Many of you have heard about this "surge" of troops into Iraq that John McCain has been talking about. He says this increase of our military occupation force in Iraq is the reason fewer young American G.I.s are dying. But as usual Big Mac has little understanding of these sorts of things.

What has really happened over the past half year is the Shiite majority in southern Iraq are running their own affairs since the British left. The Sunni population in the center of the country are now being allowed by the US to run their own affairs too and the neocons are bribing them with millions of your tax dollars. Iraq has now become three countries - the Shiite south, Sunni middle and Kurdish north. The neocons have formed an alliance with the same Sunni fighters that were blowing up American troops until recently.

But before you get too positive take a look at this article in Mother Jones. The piece gives a really good explanation of the political/religious dynamics of that part of the middle east. There are all the usual players, Iran, Turkey, Syria and beyond. Now I know these two pages of article might seem like a lot to read in your busy life. I wish there were some catchy phrase I could use to let you see the complexity of the mess the neocons have gotten us into. But life is not that easy. However, if you favor the war in Iraq it is because you are ignorant of the realities in the region. You will remain McCain ignorant until you enlighten yourself. This very well written analysis in Mother Jones will allow all but the feeblest readers to see quite clearly what trouble we have gotten into. I suggest you ALL read it before coming to any conclusion. If you do read it then you will recognize that the second we leave the region all of the competing factions will resume fighting one another until God knows what will happen. One thing I can promise you - it won't be a good ending for the U.S.