Stuck In The Middle With You

Matthew Yglesias has a smart and sucinct post here about why one of the many crazy ways we're in such a pickle in Iraq.

It truely is insane that we are supporting the Iranian backed ISCI and their Badr Brigade against the also Iranian backed but more nationalist Saderists and their Mahdi Army. Simultaneously, we support the Kurdish population in northern Iraq which is seeking a de facto if not de jure split from the central government, along with the "Concerned Citizen Councils" (aka Sunni Sheiks) who ALSO don't like the central government (but whom we're basically paying off with money and weapons to not attack us).

The more you know about the government's Iraq strategy, the more you realize that there is NO STRATEGY. If things improve, it's proof we need to stay because it's working. If things get worse, it's proof we need to stay to help the government. It's madness. It's all madness.

Speaking of, I saw the Frontline special on Iraq on PBS last night. It's just more details on what I already knew, that the whole debacle was under planned, there was no realistic strategy, and that we have no plan to leave. Worth watching if you can catch it, but be sure to have some wellbutrin handy if you do.