Sen. Richard Lugar is getting a lot of press for his speech breaking with President Bush's Iraq policy. But he's not likely to be recruited by the anti-war activists -- he's still against the Democrats' timetable, and he also opposes an abrupt pullout or total withdrawal, which he says would not be in our best interests. He's also looking ahead to the post-Iraq era, realizing we have to deal with the world the war has created, not the imaginary world we would have had by not going to war:
A first step is working with like-minded nations to establish a consistent diplomatic forum related to Iraq that is open to all parties in the Middle East. The purpose of the forum would be to improve transparency of national interests so that neighboring states and other actors avoid miscalculations. I believe it would be in the self-interest of every nation in the region to attend such meetings, as well as the United States, EU representatives, or other interested parties. Such a forum could facilitate more regular contact with Syria and Iran with less drama and rhetoric that has accompanied some meetings. The existence of a predictable and regular forum in the region would be especially important for dealing with refugee problems, regulating borders, exploring development initiatives, and preventing conflict between the Kurds and Turks. Just as the Six-Party talks have improved communications in Northeast Asia beyond the issue of North Korea's nuclear program, stabilizing Iraq could be the occasion for a diplomatic forum that contributes to other Middle East priorities.
I don't know. Lugar goes from "Iraqis care more about their tribes than they do about being Iraqis" to "We can all sit down in the Mideast and work this out," and I'm sure how you get from one to the other. But since it has become obvious that we are going to leave Iraq, no matter what, his suggestions at least offer a way to discuss holding on to our national security interests. Maybe I'm geopolitically naive, but I continue to think that solidifying the reputation we already have for not finishing what we start will not be helpful.
