THE NEW YORK TIMES: SURE THERE COULD BE GENOCIDE. According to The New York Times, even genocide takes a back seat to pulling troops out of Iraq:

When Congress returns this week, extricating American troops from the war should be at the top of its agenda.

That conversation must be candid and focused. Americans must be clear that Iraq, and the region around it, could be even bloodier and more chaotic after Americans leave. There could be reprisals against those who worked with American forces, further ethnic cleansing, even genocide. Potentially destabilizing refugee flows could hit Jordan and Syria. Iran and Turkey could be tempted to make power grabs. Perhaps most important, the invasion has created a new stronghold from which terrorist activity could proliferate.

The administration, the Democratic-controlled Congress, the United Nations and America’s allies must try to mitigate those outcomes — and they may fail. But Americans must be equally honest about the fact that keeping troops in Iraq will only make things worse. The nation needs a serious discussion, now, about how to accomplish a withdrawal and meet some of the big challenges that will arise.

If the possibility of a repeat of Darfur in Iraq does not faze The New York Times, just how concerned are they about the repercussions of US policy in the Middle East for Israel?

[Hat tip: Mickey Kaus]

Technorati Tag: Israel and Iraq and The New York Times.