MB Civic

By David Ignatius | Wednesday, November 22, 2006 | The Washington Post

This piece lays out a viewpoint on Iraq that I have not seen before. It is based on Ignatius’s decades as a foreign correspondent in that part of the world – but more importantly, it offers some very intelligent and hopeful suggestions. Here is a wee taste:

“…Like the Saudis, the Iraqis will have to save themselves, working within the authentic political framework of their culture, religion and region. The more we try to substitute our will for theirs, with more American troops or exhortation, the more we enfeeble them. As in Saudi Arabia, we must move slowly but deliberately out of the spotlight and into the shadows, with a sustainable mission of training and advising Iraqi troops.”

I am confident that the Baker Commission / Iraq Study Group is reading this in their morning paper, and that is a very good thing…BS

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/21/AR2006112101224.html