Who'd a thunk it, more foreign fighters slipping back into Iraq, say it aint so President Obama, but if you do, I'll know the rumor is true.

I had several complaints about how the government handled the war in Iraq. First, our troops being sent into into battle ill prepared for what they were to encounter. Second was the orders coming from Washington that allowed the remaining 10,000 Republican Guard to disperse when they had surrendered instead of killing them all and lastly that we did not send enough troops from the beginning and so many losses were incurred before the decision for the surge was actually executed. All of this bad decision making was evidenced by the departure of Donald Rumsfeld and I think had something to do with the apparent contentious relationship then President Bush had with his Vice President. Mr. Rumsfeld and Mr. Chaney were absolutely wrong in their theory about the effectiveness of a small hi-tech military being able to handle any situation, Iraq was a classic good old fashioned ground war.

Fast forward to the next administration and the current President being so intent on pulling out of Iraq so as to placate the far left backers who had put him into the Presidency. In the last several months there has been renewed violence and it appears that most has been caused by foreign fighters. There are also reports that as many as 250 foreign fighters entered Iraq in October alone. This was put down by US analysts who said there were maybe ten of less and other US officials say the number may be higher. I have a tendency to half believe the Iraqi intelligence officials about half way so I'm guessing about one hundred twenty five entered then. Regardless any foreign fighters is not good.

There are a number of theories being floated and all have a degree of credibility. One is that the Sunni Muslims want to take control back over the country and they are going to create as much chaos as they can. Another is that the Arab countries are concerned over the influence that Iran appears to have over Iraq. And another that really does hold water and that is the Arab countries want the US out of Iraq. Whatever the reason I think the government should reverse course for the short term if only to see if the Iraqi forces can deal with this 'surge' in foreign fighters by hunting them down and eliminating them or capture them as they are coming into the country effectively rendering them incapable of carrying out their terrorist acts.

I'm no fan of this administration, but erring on the side of caution when you have the troops in place could prove to be a real right move.

"Men in authority will always think that criticism of their policies is dangerous. They will always equate their policdies with patriotism, and find critiscm subversive".
Henry Steele Commager
1902 - 1998 Historian, Author

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