Iraq in Flames

I can remember just a few months ago being reluctant to support a complete American withdrawal from Iraq. My fear was that once the American military presence was removed, a civil war and sectarian violence would begin, and once a stray spark fell upon that combustible mix of old grudges and anger, the conflagration might be enough to consume the whole MiddleEast. Since the powder keg has already been lit, I'm thinking it might be a good idea to get the F out of there now or more like yesterday. The longer our soldiers stay in Iraq, the more dangerous it will become for them, and when we lose control of the country, no Green Zone will keep them safe.

Since I don't work for the New York Times, I am permitted to call the situation what it is, and it is a civil war. I don't think we have ever had an honest picture of what is truly happening, our chickenshit media has given us a muddled picture from day one. Commentors here on this blog have praised the rise of democracy in Iraq, never knowing that they were cheering on mass murder and mayhem. But the fire that we cannot extinguish is spreading, and just yesterday an attack on a major Saudi oil field was thwarted.

Driving cars packed with explosives, two attackers tried yesterday to blow up Saudi Abiqaiq, the world's largest oil-processing plant. But Saudi authorities managed to foil the attack. However, oil rose yesterday by more than $2 a barrel, which, according to analysts, indicates the massive effect a successful strike would have on the kingdom's oil supplies.

If the fire spreads to Saudi Arabia, you can forget about life as we know it, because once the world's gas station closes, those car payments we make every month will look like pocket change compared to what it will cost us to fuel them.

And what exactly did Bush and Cheney think they were going to accomplish by this war? I can't imagine that it's complete and utter incompetence, after all these guys went to Ivy league schools and are supposed to be good at war. Did they allow Iraq to degenerate deliberately? Are they thinking that we might still be able to impose some sort of control? At every turn of events, at every mistake, they could have corrected things, but now it's too late, the powderkeg is lit, and the only thing we can do is get the hell out.

And the blood on our hands will stain us for the rest of our days.

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