Is there still an Iraq window?
Over at Harper’s, Marc Lynch answers questions from Ken Silverstein. In light of the Bush administration’s desperate new embrace of the Iraq Study Group, I found this response particularly interesting: Q: So what?s the best policy choice at this point? A: The United States should commit to a withdrawal, not tomorrow but with a clear ...
Over at Harper's, Marc Lynch answers questions from Ken Silverstein. In light of the Bush administration's desperate new embrace of the Iraq Study Group, I found this response particularly interesting: Q: So what?s the best policy choice at this point? A: The United States should commit to a withdrawal, not tomorrow but with a clear endpoint ? benchmarks, or whatever you want to call them. The insurgents have made it pretty clear in a series of public statements and private communications that they?re willing to start talking and dampen down the violence if the United States commits to withdrawing from Iraq. We?re at a moment where there?s actually a chance for positive developments, because we have a common interest with the insurgents in defeating Al Qaeda and they are putting out clear signals that they are willing to make a deal. But everything hinges on the United States making a commitment to withdraw ? politically, they can?t and won?t get in the political game without that because it would destroy their credibility and because, frankly, getting the United States out really matters to them. But there?s a window here that I?m afraid we?re going to let close because of domestic politics. The insurgency factions turned against Al Qaeda because its Islamic State of Iraq project has been growing in strength, and if they can?t show some gains soon the tide may turn against them within the Sunni community. Question to readers -- is there any reason to doubt this assessment?
Over at Harper’s, Marc Lynch answers questions from Ken Silverstein. In light of the Bush administration’s desperate new embrace of the Iraq Study Group, I found this response particularly interesting:
Q: So what?s the best policy choice at this point? A: The United States should commit to a withdrawal, not tomorrow but with a clear endpoint ? benchmarks, or whatever you want to call them. The insurgents have made it pretty clear in a series of public statements and private communications that they?re willing to start talking and dampen down the violence if the United States commits to withdrawing from Iraq. We?re at a moment where there?s actually a chance for positive developments, because we have a common interest with the insurgents in defeating Al Qaeda and they are putting out clear signals that they are willing to make a deal. But everything hinges on the United States making a commitment to withdraw ? politically, they can?t and won?t get in the political game without that because it would destroy their credibility and because, frankly, getting the United States out really matters to them. But there?s a window here that I?m afraid we?re going to let close because of domestic politics. The insurgency factions turned against Al Qaeda because its Islamic State of Iraq project has been growing in strength, and if they can?t show some gains soon the tide may turn against them within the Sunni community.
Question to readers — is there any reason to doubt this assessment?
Daniel W. Drezner is a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and co-host of the Space the Nation podcast. Twitter: @dandrezner
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