Success Happy

What should the benchmarks for success in Iraq be?

I don't like the fact that troops are in Iraq but I recognise we can't cut and run now the choice has been made. The problem I have is there is no way to know what success in Iraq looks like. It has never been quantified. Benchmarks would mean we would know what to look out for. It would mean that the Iraq War is not open ended and has specific goals. It would also mean that they would have to focus their efforts on meeting the benchmarks they have made public or they would face criticism. Until benchmarks are created many more troops will die in this endless war. Benchmarking will save lives and it needs to happen. The goals will eventually be reached and the public will see an end in sight for this disaster. More importantly Iraq may have a chance of peace one day. What do you think?

Public Comments

1. Well we won the war in a few days but becasue the United Nations does nothing that require their ambassadors to stop snorting crack and whores in New York City, we had to stay around to do nation buidling which sucks and we should not have to do. Why does this country tolerate the misuse of the UN building in NYC, it should be turned into a homeless shelter....oh thats right it is now.
2. Open a MC Donald's and a Wal Mart as soon as possible!
3. There were several benchmarks included in the Iraq funding bill that Bush signed last month. We’ll see whether any of those benchmarks have been met when the next funding request comes before Congress. Somehow I don’t think any of them will have been achieved. It is difficult to design benchmarks that define success since, as you point out, nobody knows what success in Iraq looks like and we are getting no leadership from Bush on this issue. Even assuming that Iraq became totally quiet and nonviolent tomorrow, there is no guarantee that the situation would continue for very long.