Iraq: The Escrow Exit Strategy

Like many of us, I have been struggling with the tragic choice that if we leave Iraq we leave a horrible mess behind, but if we stay, the mess will probably get worse due to the problems caused by America's military presence.

So how about this approach:

1-acknowledge we "own" the problem, because we do. Colin Powell ("you break it, you own it") was right about that one.

2-figure out what it would cost to stay there if we stayed there as long as big kids like the Iraq Study Group want us to - let's say for the sake of argument that it's another two years, $250 billion of taxpayer dollars and American lives.

3-leave as soon as possible and escrow that same amount of money for the benefit of the Iraqi people and the reconstruction of that country - because it is the fundamentally right thing to do. In fact, I think all compassionate progressives and conservatives should oppose our country simply pulling out without making some sort of HARD commitment to clean up the mess we've made. Multi-national talks are nice; a pricey commitment to rebuilding is the real deal. Do we have the will to stay the course on that?

4-call in our allies, the UN, Middle East neighbors and some internationally wise set of people to work with the US government to set smart and binding conditions that would govern the release of that money so long as various markers of progress are achieved.

We just can't leave; but we can't keep throwing money down a rat-hole either. So let's commit to paying for the mess we started, but escrow the funds so that the money is there as an incentive for progress, peace and prosperity.