Jonah Goldberg does some extreme noodling and decides that a referendum wherein the Iraqi people voted whether Coalition forces should stay or go would be a splendid idea. Kevin Drum likes it the idea and thinks the “Go” side would win easily. I don’t think that’s true since, as bad as the security picture is now, it would get even worse without Coalition troops to train and augment the fledgling Iraqi forces.
Either way, though, it’s a good idea. Goldberg enumerates eleven reasons why a “Stay” vote would be helpful. As to the alternative, “I can think of no more honorable and face-saving way for U.S. forces to exit Iraq than after a vote of this sort.”
Aside from achieving the aims that took us over there in the first place, presumably. But, certainly, the Iraqi people have the right to ask us to leave. We’ve long said we would do so if that was their wish.
