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<DIV>Nick,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Regarding Diamond's reservations.... Yes, the situation in Iraq is
unstable and volatile. I don't think any of us expected it would be
simple. Certainly Bush warned repeatedly that it would be a long and
difficult pull. Unfortunately we are not dealing with a geographically
concentrated enemy as we were in Germany or Japan years ago. In both of
those cases they were organized en masse under one loony banner, not like Iraq
today where several loony factions are after each other's throats as well as
ours. God knows whether Khalizad or any one else will be able to pull off
the super human feat of bringing these factions together on common ground.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>As Diamond's article mentioned, any agreement which hopes to put a stop to
Sunni violence will have to include an unambiguous commitment from Bush to
eventually withdraw from Iraq. Bush has cooperated in that sense as he has
vowed from day one that our presence there would be temporary and that
our goal was to turn over governance of Iraq to the Iraqi people
through the democratic process. One tall order to say the
least, but I would plead for a bit more patience with the administration's
efforts. Bush has some pretty bright folks at his disposal. I am
sure that Rumsfeld, Rice, Cheney and crew are well acquainted with Diamond's
arguments as well as those who disagree with him. Unlike you, I find this
administration measured, mature and credible. I tend to trust them as a
group with a firm moral compass, unlike the Clinton administration.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I would suppose that you support some form of mediated settlement and
gradual withdrawal? Perhaps not so gradual? As Diamond warned at the
conclution of his piece, a sudden withdrawal of our forces as many have
advocated would result in an all out civil war.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Best, Tony</DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>