[RickSp]

Iraq wants no part of more U.S. soldiers

As President George W. Bush challenges public opinion at home by committing more soldiers to Iraq, he is confronted by an essential paradox: An Iraqi government that does not really want them. The Shiite-led government here has not opposed more troops. Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki said as much in a videoconference with Bush on Saturday. But the government is skeptical of American intentions and is determined to push back the reach of Washington's authority to run the war the way it wants. Haidar al-Abadi, a member of Parliament who is a close associate of Maliki's, said: "The government believes there is no need for extra troops from the American side. The existing troops can do the job." "You can't solve the problem by adding more troops," said Redha Jawad Tahi, a Shiite member of Parliament. "The security should be in the hands of the Iraqis. The U.S. should be in a supporting role." Even as the extra troops are readied — more than 20,000, Bush was expected to propose — the Iraqis are drawing up their own plans.

The American people, the majority of the military establishment, and even the Iraqis oppose Bush's escalation of the war in Iraq, yet Bush insists of staying the course" with more of the same. Does anyone believe that it is a good idea to jump deeper into a civil war that we barely understand? Does anyone believe that 20,000 more troops will make any difference?