Iraq--Updated Opinion

Over a year ago I offered my opinion on Iraq and referenced an article in the Wall Street Journal. Now the quagmire seems deeper than ever. When I re-read last year's article it sounds very rah-rah and too optimistic.

We still haven't done what I believe we should have done last year--set clear objectives and
benchmarks, and get out of there. I'm unhappy that our leaders are still struggling with this. I'm not an expert--but here are my observations:

1. Our leaders wrestle with the same issue that existed 3 years ago: How does a western culture understand how all the sub cultures over there think compared to us? The more we try to instill a democracy, the more resentment we create towards America
2. Our leaders comprare the war against terrorists to enemies we faced WW I & II. Terrorists are splintered--many times divided among themselves so they are not an evil empire or the axis. They are cells which need to be dealt with on a micro basis, not a macro basis. We should deal with terrorists like Israel did at those involved in the Munich Olympics. Most every one who masterminded Munich were dead 1 year after the attack. Look how long it's taken us to respond to attacks against us.
3. So far we've spent $600 billion in Iraq. That's $20,000 for every person in Iraq. What might have happened if we handed every Iraq citizen half that amount? We probably could have turned Saddam into a westerner for a lot less. What's the per capita cost for each American? Answer: $2,000/person. And not measurable to the families of the 3,000 who have given the ultimate sacrafice. What would have happened if we offered $10 million to each US citizen willing to go and stay until there was stabilility? We could have sent a lot more people and still have money to back them up. Any way you look at it, war is more efficient if the folks waging it are motivated.
4. Military action to resolve issues like the ones we face in Iraq almost never the right answer. Military action works when someone threatens our boundaries. Pearl Harbor is a prime example--but look at how many lives were sacraficed to acheive victory.
5. We need strategies that turn over authority to local governments officials then withdraw--at least military wise. We can't eliminate terrorists by occupying the middle east, and neither can we control or protect our perceived dependence on their oil.