Iraq: The Bungled Transition

Peter Galbraith wrote an excellent article, Iraq: The Bungled Transition, explaining what happened in Iraq and the current situation (as mentioned by Paul Glastris). He starts by describing the gross incompetence of the political appointees that the Bush administration selected to manage Iraq and how they bungled the job.

Next, he describes where things are now. Prime Minister Iyad Allawi is unpopular, Shiite and Sunni insurgents control much of the country, and the Kurds seek independence. He sees a breakup of Iraq as likely, a scenario he advocated before. The prognosis seems rather bleak.

The United States faces a near-impossible dilemma in Iraq. If it withdraws prematurely, it risks leaving behind a weak government unable to cope with the chaos that is the breeding ground of terrorism. By staying in Iraq, the United States undermines the legitimacy of the Iraqi government it wants to support, while US military action produces more recruits for its enemies.

Though others have presented a similar big picture, the article supplies a broader context and the supporting background more clearly than anything else I've read about Iraq.