It has been stated that the dems don't want a plan, nor do they have a plan. Here is my plan. I am not a military strategist, so feel free to correct any wrong thinking.

One of the things I feel that this administration has failed in this war is not outlining a clear, concise objective. Since we cannot reverse history, I will start with the present situation.

Objective: To Allow the people of Iraq to rule themselves.

Goals of the Objective:

1. Quell the violence in Iraq. There are two things that need to be addressed here. Sectarian and Outside influence.

2. Train forces to be self sustaining and able to militarily take care of themselves.

3. A true democratic government that will take care of all those that reside in Iraq.

4. Restore infrastructure so that the Iraq's can return to a normal life, can be self supporting, and can defend themselves.

Ways to achieve these goals

1. Shut down all the borders
2. Let Iran and Syria and any others that think to stop the progress, know in no uncertain terms that they will be dealt with harshly. (outside influence)
3. Between the fighting factions in Iraq, first use diplomacy. Set the leaders down together of each faction and let them know that we expect them to work things out and control their sides. Also let them know that anyone caught not cooperating wil be dealt with in the same fashion as the outside influences.
4. Once the violence is quelled, I think that it will be much easier to train the police forces and a military. This should however, be closely monitered to keep corruption out.
5. Have elections again. Emphasize that we expect this government to protect all of Iraq's citizens, period.
6. Restoring their infrastructure is an absolute must. They will not be able to defend themselves and become a strong country without this.

Unless the violence is dealt with, none of these objectives can go forward. Therefore I would recommend an overwhelming troop surge. Somewhere in the number of 200,000 to 300,000 more troops. Once the borders are shut down that should help contain outside influences. When the violence is quelled, I believe we should ask the UN to send in forces, (we won't leave yet) but I believe they can help with the training and overseeing of the elections and government.

Restoring their infrastructure will be expensive. Although the Iraq people did not ask for this war, they will directly benefit from it, therefore I feel they should be at least partially responsible for the expense. Agreements between them and U.S. can worked out.

I hate to break it to you, but that's the plan our guys have been working on over there for the past 2 years. It takes time though. But the more talk of failure here, the more emboldened Iran and Syria are and the more they do to continue throwing gasoline on the fire. If Kennedy, Pelosi, Reid, and Kerry miraculously woke up one morning with a backbone and said, "Okay, turn our Marines lose on these bastards and clean this mess up", then gave them 60 days to actually fight a war instead of playing kindergarten teacher and police officer all rolled into one, we would win this thing.

Thank you Kix. Wars are not pretty.

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Fear leads to Anger...Anger leads to Hate...Hate leads to Suffering.

No the problem with them when referring to the as; well I would have said Pre-K teachers but anyway, is that they have no guts, backlbones to stand by anything they voted for or were for in the past. They are flip flopers! At least Bush has stood by his resolutions and you.

Stand by his resolutions he has. Insanity-continuing to do the same thing, expecting different results. A 20,000 troop surge is just more of the same. Stop piddle footing around, get in there with some real force and git it done.

I don't agree with holding their hands. But so far, Bush and Co. hasn't done what needs to be done to get this war won. You can't just keep throwing money and bodies at something without a real plan. If Bush has a plan, it's not working. Let's try something different.

Sorry Kix, but I can't agree with you. Bush obviously doesn't care about opinion polls or what the people think, so why hasn't he gone in there with some real force, stopped holding their hands, and git the job done. He has done his own thing for the past six years, so what is the hold up in Iraq. He's been in control of this war, he can't blame it on anyone else.

If I remember correctly about 4.5 years ago when Bush & Co. addressed the nation regarding Iraq his estimate was about 7 years. He didn't lie about this not being a quick easy war to win or exactly how to go about it. Things change everyday over there. We are in a different era when it comes to warfare and lets face it most like you don't have the stomache for it & that is why we have had so many obsticals in getting this done. Not to metion how much politics have played a part along with the liberal spin all during this war. I personally feel more is better but leaving would be devistading.

pssssst........I am a military strategist..............you can't win at war by telling how you're gonna do it.......catch 22:-O

Freedom, I think yours is a very good idea (I also think telling people what our overall plan is without devulging the particulars will not spell death to the plan) However, since Reid, Pelosi, et al are already making noises that they will not fund even 21,000 new troops do you think it would be possible to put another 300,000 on the ground? And I agree, this is the number we should have.