Phebe Marr Quotes (4 Quotes)

If the U. S. occupies Iraq, it will have the best opportunity in the short term to provide both law and order, prevent retribution and begin the processes by which Iraqis inside and outside can refashion their political system and move toward democratic reforms.

Most of Iraq's leaders recognize that if the US were to pull out precipitously, things could get much worse. All the talk about the US getting out, an exit strategy and so forth, has them worried. It's having an impact.

It's a little misplaced to say that forming a government somehow solves the sectarian problem or any of the other really difficult challenges on the ground. It will probably help some to have a new government, but we shouldn't be under any illusions that the day after, the insurgency will put down its guns, or the sectarian violence is going to stop.

All of this is creating great, great decentralization and a failure to provide services. Until they get a real central government, they're not going to provide any effective central authority. This is going to require some time, a long time.