Starting to Make Sense

A VERY persuasive case for moving troops to Kurdistan and other nether regions of Iraq. But here's an slight counterargument: why not test the surge and then move back from a position of strength - rather than weakness.

Smart critics of the surge are saying it will cause Al Queda and the insurgency to temporarily retreat and hide only to come out another day. Good. We quell the violence and then move back (the whole goal anyway).

Supporters of this alternative plan put forward by Luttwak and Sullivan argue we should move back immediately.

But either way, the path out of Iraq is the same. At some point we'll withdraw to the sidelines, the only question is when. It's sort of like when do you cut off your kids? When they're 18, 22, 28, 50?

In any case, this entire endeavour looks like it's shaking up the region. I think that's a good thing.

UPDATE: To return to poker analogies, it's like letting the retarded players will small stacks battle it out against one another while we sit on the sidelines and take down easy pots.