Genuine sovereignty and self-determination in Iraq: "What can the United States do to dampen the insurgency and avoid a potential civil war? Something that the Bush administration and the Washington foreign policy establishment have avoided like the plague: rapid U.S. troop withdrawal and genuine and complete self-determination for Iraqis."

But if the troops withdraw and Iraqis have self-determination over their own government and natural resources, then what would have been the point of the invasion? This is why genuine self-determination and sovereignty cannot occur. Either the US retains effective military and political control of a puppet government in Iraq or else it is forced into a disorderly retreat.

Genuine sovereignty and self-determination in Iraq: "What can the United States do to dampen the insurgency and avoid a potential civil war? Something that the Bush administration and the Washington foreign policy establishment have avoided like the plague: rapid U.S. troop withdrawal and genuine and complete self-determination for Iraqis."

But if the troops withdraw and Iraqis have self-determination over their own government and natural resources, then what would have been the point of the invasion? This is why genuine self-determination and sovereignty cannot occur. Either the US retains effective military and political control of a puppet government in Iraq or else it is forced into a disorderly retreat.