How and When Should We End the War in Iraq

This is strictly an opinion piece by a very concerned citizen. I was initially for the war, not because of weapons of mass destruction but because of the cruelty and barbarism of saddam's regime. I watched with pride, blue-stater that I am, how our troops won the war

It is with great sadness now that we are all distant witnesses to carnage among the minority sunnis and fractured majority shi'as. And as a physician, I am even more discouraged by the death of not only civilians but of our soldiers, including mational guard units. Because of improved combat medical care previously fatal wounds are being treated successfully and over 12,000 Americans have terrible deformities and disabilities. Our troops have been in combat for a longer period of time than any war since the civil war; it is clear that the troops on the ground are at the breaking point. Yet no one has the courage to call for the draft which would affect young men and women of all classes. I just think of mitt romney's response to why his children had not signed on to get a feeling of the callousness of some politicians.

So what is to be done: Several things are becoming clear -
1.The Iraqi government is in no hurry to bring about a peace. The reason, in my opinion, is that after the shi'as being cruelly dominated by the sunnis of saddam, they want the strategic configuration on the ground to change so that Iraq becomes a shi'a state with the sunnis pushed to a second class citizen status.

2.Baghdad is being ethnically cleansed by the ahi'a so that fewer and fewer aunni enclaves remain.

3.The biggest winners of all so far have been the relatively peaceful kurds (a good thing) and the iranians (a bad thing in my opinion) who would like to establish an islamic theocracy in at least parts of iraq. Remember that the holiest shrines of the shia are in iraq.

4.The borders are porous and foreign fighters of any allegiance can readily enter iraq.

5.There is abundant infighting among the shi'a for control of the outcome. And the outcome means incredible oil revenues.

6.Al qaeda, although a minor player, is in iraq and has helped bring the sunnis in anbar province to cut deals with the u.s.

7.The true status of the success or failure of the surge is unclear, but it is clear that troops will have to go home. Probably the best plan I have heard is that of senator biden's that calls for a very structured withdrawal. Those who call for immediate and complete withdrawal are naïve about military matters in my opinion.

8.Iraq will probably never become the vision of george bush and our mission is probably nearly accomplished. Of concern, the police are corrupt and many units of the military dysfunctional. And we are witnessing a diaspora of the best and the brightest from Iraq.

So with the above "facts" what should we do: Here is the best option that I see. I am a physician not a diplomat, politician or general, but for better or worse, here it is:

1.Perhaps the most viable is to let iraq become a tripartite state withbBaghdad a shi'a city, the sunni in anbar province and the kurds in place. We should offer protection to the sunnis but let the shi'a figure out their own pecking order.

2.The u.s. should prevent with bases and diplomacy the pernicious influence of iran. The border has to be made impermeable.

3.Oil revenues should be shared equitably.

4.We should have remnant bases after our troops have withdrawn in an orderly manner.

5.We should try to create either a loose federation or three independent states.

6.Most important we should make clear to the shi'a that if they establish a federation with iran or a theocracy, the sound of american combat feet on the ground will be quickly heard.

7.The missing in all this have been the arab states. None of them want to see iran, a very foreign and distinct culture from theirs, gain in influence. They will have to become impartial and strong players.

Hopefully, this will allow us to bring our tired troops home, allow the state ofiIraq (which was a british fabrication after ww1) to find its own way and protect that war torn region from iran.

I welcome all letters and thoughts as this war is decimating our country, our military, our global influence and most importantly our constitution.