Submitted by James Cotton, Dec 6, 2006 14:50

Are Mr. Kazim's IDEAS intellectually superior to those proposed by people he characterizes as members of the three groups he mocks? No they are not. What are ideas anyway? Kazimi likes classifications so maybe he'll be receptive to what Thomas Sowell said:

"Ideas can be classified by their relationship to the authentication process. There are ideas systematically prepared for authentication ("theories"), ideas not derived from any systematic process ("visions"), ideas which could not survive any reasonable authentication process ("illusions"), ideas which exempt themselves from any authentication process ("myths"), ideas which have already passed authentication processes ("facts"), as well as ideas known to have failed- or certain to fail- such processes ("falsehoods" - both mistakes and lies)."

Mr. Kazimi has a theory that licence plates will solve the insurgency problem. They will not. Mr. Kazimi has a theory that "punishing" insurgent will solve the insurgency problem. Thats a myth. Apon inspection one finds both ideas simple minded and doomed from the outset to failure. The insurgency will stop using cars to kill and switch to a different way. If insurgents could be punished, don't you think they would be? Of course they would be.

The essence of Cognitive Dissonance is a failure to come to terms with reality. Its believing in illusions (like those illusive WMD's that got us into this war) and believing in myths such as how Iraq would be better off without Saddam. Cognitive Dissonance is clinging tightly to heavenly visions that have long since morphed into hellish nightmares, at least for all those who spill blood.

Can we just once not indulge in cognitive dissonance? Can we just once dispense with what Twain called: the consience soothing falisities that make war possible? For once lets face FACTS... hard cold facts. Iraq, if not the entire country, certainly an ever-widening region around Bagdad is engulfed in a bloody chaotic quagmire. People who had means to flee have have fled (Over a million by some accounts). Like humpty-dumpty who fell off the wall, Iraq can never be put back together again. Like the former soviet union not so long ago, Iraq is starting over again. What happens when a country is forced to start over? We cannot know for certain but there are historic precidents.

History teaches (those who will listen) that the future cannot be imposed. Iraq must self determine, which means more bloodshed in the near term. "Theories" as yet untried are no solution. In fact nothing Americans can do, except get out... leave where we're not wanted, can change Iraq for the better.

The time of possiblities has run out. The door of oportunities has slammed shut. Iraq is now a losing trade. Its time to cut our losses (and-run) before America is completely bankrupt.... both morally and financially.

Note: Comments are screened, and in some cases edited, before posting. We reserve the right to reject anything we find objectionable.