The Solution to the Iraq Disaster - Not I.S.G.

The solution to the Iraq quagmire is available if we only look. It is the same solution that worked in Bosnia. It was even the solution for own country 200 years ago:

In light of the difficult and deteriorating situation in Iraq, we need to consider new options in the event that current efforts cannot soon turn current security, political and economic trends around. A Bosnia Option for Iraq focuses on the controlled realignment of population groups in order to minimize communal violence and set the stage for a stable political settlement--what might be termed a “soft partition” of the country (but with retention of a confederal structure, together with equal sharing of oil revenue on a per capita basis among all groups). This memo briefly reviews current circumstances and then outlines a Bosnia option for Iraq.

If you are curious, one author of this article is a veteran of the Bosnia conflict. He also appeared on Cspan yesterday giving a civilized and cogent analysis of what plagues Iraq. He believes that the Iraq Study Group was mistaken in it's insistence on strengthening the central government:

In a disintegrating Iraq, our goal should similarly be to create militarily defensible sub-regions. That will stanch the violence and, in time, a unitary state could be preserved--to share oil revenue, conduct foreign policy, maintain certain national institutions, and hold out hope for a more cohesive Iraq in the future.

Part of the solution is relocating population groups to safer areas:

To stem the vengeful sectarian spiral, we should assist in a more humane process of relocation, providing alternative housing and jobs for those who leave their homes.[...]This approach worked in war-torn Bosnia.[...]The same approach is now needed in Iraq. If U.S. and Iraqi forces cannot protect civilians, there is little moral dilemma about facilitating their movement to safer areas. Indeed, doing so can help defeat the jihadists and former Ba‘athists who are intent on causing an overall collapse of the government. This plan could help preserve that government, and it can save lives.

Bring in NATO and or UN forces to implement these policies:

We might not want U.S. forces to participate directly in what some might see as sanctioning a form of segregation, even though it would be more accurately described as protecting people as they started new lives. Even so, there is an argument for NATO carrying out this mission under its own banner, with multinational units aiding in the protective effort. (Iraqi forces could be inadequate to the task, since some could wind up taking sides in any battles that occurred.) This would not require large additional numbers of Coalition troops, but it would change the optic of the relocation mission for the better.

This proposal is not too different than that posited by Senator Biden [written May 2006]:

Finally we have a political solution to the strife in Iraq. Its based on history - especially our own. It worked in Bosnia and it worked for the colonies in the 18th century. Senator Joe Biden and Leslie H. Gelb wrote and OP-Ed that details a plan for the creation of autonomous regions that take into account the religious/ethnic differences in Iraq.

The problem is this President is not interested in a solution.