What the Next Step in Iraq should be for US

I heard the Sunday morning news programs--again, F. Sakiria's program on CNN outstanding--and none carried hostile criticisms of what the US military, led by General Dempsey, is doing in Iraq!  Surprising.

They contained comments from participants to the effect that the US has no overall plan or strategy in the Middle East.  That to my mind is just wishful thinking, for critics often refrain from endorsing what this Administration is trying to accomplish there--namely, to establish governments that support their citizenry and create economic and social conditions for stability in the region; and friendly to the West.

Despite removing Maliki from political governance in Iraq, the new government in Baghdad is likely to remain favoring Shia (-Shiite) policies over and against the will of the Sunnis (supported in many ways by the Saudis).  This should continue the already heightened tension in Iraq among the three Islamic religious factions. 

By the US' arming the Kurds independently of the Baghdad regime, a way to bring about a stable federalist government among the Shia, Sunnis and Kurds, each governing its own Iraqi region, is emerging. As one analyst from Yale put it today (8/17/14) on one of the Sunday morning broadcasts, 'The Sunnis only are in the long run able to drive out the ISIS rebels, who must rely on Sunni internal support in order to carry out their religiously motivated mission in Iraq.'

In return for getting the ISIS out of Iraq, the Sunnis should be granted essential autonomy from the Shia-controlled government in Baghdad, turning that government into virtually a regional agency, though the conduit of national economic affairs.  Each regional government would have its own military.  Right now, the Sunni military, I understand, is coupled with the ISIS military force, which isn't all that bad because that link will be useful in turning around the situation in Syria.

Maybe, I should have listed this item under WHACKO-Theory!!  

Israeli Opportunity to Win Over the Palestinians

Now that the guns and missiles have ceased creating havoc in Gaza, Israel stands in position to exert control in the region, I contend.

The issue to my mind is for Israel to alight upon a controlling security force among the Palestinian area inhabitants.  It could be composed of Hamas-militants and social workers who are sympathetic to ending any further conflict between Palestinians and Israelis.  In a recent program on CNN, some reporters on the Gaza scene claim there are such designates.

Perhaps a more promising tact, is to accept the Hamas recommendation that there be international monitors positioned in Gaza, and perhaps, on the West Bank, to assure no further unprovoked clashes occur between the two sides,  Since Egypt brokered this particular cease-fire, selecting the Egyptians seems quite natural.  Additionally, this force could be sizable, sufficiently so, to assure Israel of  no further hostile stockpiling of weaponry that might threaten the peace.

In any case, I appeal to Israel to take advantage of its unique present position to influence the political and military affairs transpiring in Palestinian occupied lands.

Ukrainian Fight for the hearts of its people

I concur with Hilary Clinton that in any conflict there is a propaganda campaign that should be successfully conducted.

In the Ukraine today a battle is waging to convince the Ukrainians and the Russian rebels, in contradistinction to the Russian-based aggressors, that they share much in the way of cultural That heritage has been greatly influenced by Russia, but each country has its own ways of doing things.  I believe a propaganda deluge should be instituted to both convince the Ukrainians, including the present-day rebels, to remain one united country, yet stay in close proximity, as brothers, with the Russians of the Mother country.  It is true Russia spawned the modern Ukraine; but it is the latter that must, as an offspring, be given the freedom to grow and develop into a mature independent state.

So, the real battle is not on the battlefield; it is in the realm of values and loyalty.  One cannot be a citizen of one country, enjoying the rights and privileges of that country, yet profess loyalty to another.  The finances of the Ukraine can be fixed, but not on the battlefield, particularly since Russia won't dole out a dime to help the Ukrainians--so declared!