A statement by an Iraqi "official" today, see link, is interesting for the question it raises: WHO IS A PUPPET?
The Insurgents say they are fighting the Americans and their collaborators. But not necessarily the Iraqi people.
So, if the US military stays around UNTIL the last insurgent is defeated.....that implies that the remaining Iraqis will be defacto puppets of the US, if not dejure puppets.
And if the "new government" elected on Sunday, ACCEPTS OR ENCOURAGES the continuation of the US occupation; then the new government will be US Puppets in the eyes of many Arabs and Muslims.
The point being: IF THE PRESENCE OF AMERICAN "INFIDELS" ARE THE PROBLEM......WHY NOT HAVE THE NEW GOVERNMENT DISTANCE ITSELF FROM THE OCCUPATION IMMEDIATELY?
BECAUSE THE FIRST TIME A SUNNI IRAQI IS KILLED BY AN AMERICAN---IN THE NAME OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT---THAT GOVERNMENT WILL LOSE SOME CREDIBILTY WITH THE ARAB WORLD AND WITH MANY IRAQIS.
The point? Embracing the Infidel "American Killing Machine" in Iraq, while convenient, could be fatal to the new Iraqi government's credibility.
Asking the Americans to leave now or, ASAP, could defuse much of the Insurgency AND without firing a shot in anger Iraqi on Iraqi......
THE NEW GOVERNMENT IN IRAQ WILL HAVE A SHORT WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY TO DECIDE:
TO BE A PUPPET, OR NOT TO BE A PUPPET, THAT IS THE QUESTION.
