Friday, December 08, 2006
I'm back
I'm really falling behind on my blogging. It's now 2:45 in the morning. A few months ago, this would have been close to my normal awakening time. But lately, I've been staying up late and discovering that I actually do my best work after midnight. Today, I woke up, looked at the clock and saw that it was 9:30, laid there for a while longer, and then decided that staying in bed until 10:00 would be way too slothful, so I got up, got dressed, and then went to have breakfast. It was only when I got down to the kitchen that I realized it was already 13:30. Fortunately my management seems to be tolerant of this extreme flex-hours arrangement, but sometimes I do wish I could live on the same hours as normal people.
Anyway, having returned to my blogging after such a long hiatus, I feel like I should express an opinion on something. Since everyone else has a solution for Iraq, I'll offer one of my own. What would happen if the U.S. took Saddam and 20 of his meanest toughest bodyguards and henchmen (who are probably already in U.S.-operated prisons by now), gave them several thousand dollars, a few cars and trucks, a lot of hand weapons, and agreed to drop them off anywhere they choose in Iraq? The deal would be that he have seven days before the U.S. announces what they have done. Saddam could make a public appearance and announce it earlier if he wishes. The last thing they would tell him before driving away and leaving him and his security guys to make their own way is "One day we may call upon you to do a favor for us."
Would Saddam be able to re-establish his government? Would he be able to take over leadership of the Baath party and the Sunnis? Would he have so many enemies that he would be forced to go into hiding? Would he get blown up by a roadside bomb just because he and his people are traveling in a convoy of new vehicles and look important? Would he find it prudent to plead with his captors not to release him? Whatever happens, it would likely alter the situation sufficiently to create some new options, one of which may be feasible. What we know for certain is that as things stand now, there are no good options. We have nothing to lose.
Anyway, having returned to my blogging after such a long hiatus, I feel like I should express an opinion on something. Since everyone else has a solution for Iraq, I'll offer one of my own. What would happen if the U.S. took Saddam and 20 of his meanest toughest bodyguards and henchmen (who are probably already in U.S.-operated prisons by now), gave them several thousand dollars, a few cars and trucks, a lot of hand weapons, and agreed to drop them off anywhere they choose in Iraq? The deal would be that he have seven days before the U.S. announces what they have done. Saddam could make a public appearance and announce it earlier if he wishes. The last thing they would tell him before driving away and leaving him and his security guys to make their own way is "One day we may call upon you to do a favor for us."
Would Saddam be able to re-establish his government? Would he be able to take over leadership of the Baath party and the Sunnis? Would he have so many enemies that he would be forced to go into hiding? Would he get blown up by a roadside bomb just because he and his people are traveling in a convoy of new vehicles and look important? Would he find it prudent to plead with his captors not to release him? Whatever happens, it would likely alter the situation sufficiently to create some new options, one of which may be feasible. What we know for certain is that as things stand now, there are no good options. We have nothing to lose.
