Thursday, August 20, 2009
Not So Fast
Yesterday's murderous attacks against Iraqi civilians are a clear indication of what lies ahead for that frail country unless Maliki changes course and invites American forces to re-enter the fight, and remain until Iraqi security forces are genuinely able to take on the remaining insurgents by themselves.
There is no doubt, however, that Obama's stated intention to remove American forces is emboldening Iraq's enemies; it remains to be seen if he will voice firm support for Iraq's innocents. He has quietly offered assistance to Maliki through Oderno, but that's not enough. Keeping a low profile will have the same result there as it has in Iran, whose terrorist leadership took Obama's silence as a signal that it's open season, as described today at Power Line in Iran's Great Purge.
There is no doubt, however, that Obama's stated intention to remove American forces is emboldening Iraq's enemies; it remains to be seen if he will voice firm support for Iraq's innocents. He has quietly offered assistance to Maliki through Oderno, but that's not enough. Keeping a low profile will have the same result there as it has in Iran, whose terrorist leadership took Obama's silence as a signal that it's open season, as described today at Power Line in Iran's Great Purge.
