Iraq Exit Strategy

Al Qaeda in Iraq issued a statement recently, warning Sunni Arabs that
voting in the referendum on the constitution would be equivalent to
rejecting Islam

So why don't we just add another question to the referendum - "Do you
want the Americans and British to leave the country?" (within, say, 6
months of the date of the referendum)

That gives all the opponents to the occupation a vested interest in the
referendum, despite their Takfiri opposition to democracy.

If they refuse to campaign for it, they will very clearly seen by the
world at large but most importantly, by the Iraqi community and the
Arab Street, as wanting to keep the Americans there for the purpose of
continuing the fight. They will be put in the position of rejecting
democracy even when it offers a peaceful solution to the conflict. Very
difficult to sell on the Street.

If they campaign and lose, that won't stop them fighting, but it will
dramatically reduce local support for them and give the western powers
a legitimate mandate to stay until the job is done properly, the damage
they've inflicted, repaired and Iraq is genuinely capable of
conducting its own affairs without breakdown into Civil War.

If they campaign and win, the western powers can leave without
dishonour in accordance with the democratic wishes of the Iraqi people.

The perfect exit strategy.

In fact, you'd have to ask the question:

Why would they NOT want to include it in the referendum?

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