A Simple Answer to the Iraq Debacle

We hear able-bodied men in Iraq complain about conditions there, for which they blame our presence. Our politicians and pundits tell us that there are no good options. That consensus is wrong - there is a simple, effective way to make things right. It is conscription. Not that of Americans, as actually proposed by Democratic Congressman Charles Rangel, but of Iraqis. All males between the ages of say 16 and 60 would find themselves in the army or police force. Those out of uniform would be considered insurgents and dealt with accordingly. Civilian activities would be left to the women.

This does not mean that militias should be incorporated in whole. In fact there would have to be homogenization of the Iraqi armed forces by random assignment of personnel. The development of partisan cliques would be inevitable, and would have to be treated by repeated reassignments. This homogenization might also have to be extended to the police and even local governments.

Conscription is an extreme measure, but conditions in Iraq are extreme and sometimes extreme conditions call for extreme measures.

Coalition forces would act as military trainers and advisors.

Most of our men and women could be back home in a few months.