Thomas Barnett, noting the remarkable success of Iraqi Kurdistan vis-a-vis the rest of the country, argues that we ought to take advantage of our good relationship with them in an intriguing way:
Yugoslavia didn’t fall into place in a day. It did so in sequential chunks. Recognizing Kurdistan-the-success is crucial to keeping the Big Bang sequential instead of cumulative.
Take what the board gives you, I say.
And pull most U.S. troops eventually back to Kurdistan. Don’t leave Iraq, but stay where you’re welcome and accept a certain commute for certain necessary activities.
Grow some lawn and stop only killing weeds. Then let others see where the grass is greener.
Demonstration effects make globalization go round.
Certainly not my first choice, given that withdrawal from the so-called Green Zone would be seen as a defeat. Still, it’s more plausible a plan for victory than withdrawing to Okinawa. And, at some point, we may be forced to chose between least bad options.
