Why its time to cut and run in Iraq
A lot of politicians and commentators seem to accept as gospel that we shouldn't "cut and run" in Iraq.
One reason often given for not pulling out of Iraq now is that it would hurt our international reputation, particularly our credibility with our allies. But you have to ask yourself, exactly what reputation and credibility are we preserving by hanging on in Iraq?
The whole world can see that we didn't really think through the invasion of Iraq before we launched it, and they can also see that in the years since then we have consistently failed to apply enough resources and manpower to stabilize the country. We took on something that was bigger than we expected, and then stubbornly pretended that we had things under control when we didn't.
The reputation we have established so far in Iraq is one of biting off more than we can chew, and then failing to commit the resources the situation demands, and all the while denying we have a problem. Why would we want to preserve this reputation? Does anyone think our performance in Iraq so far reassures our allies in any way? Are our allies saying to each other "After seeing the US stay the course in Iraq we know that if we ever get in trouble we can count on the US to send us less help than is needed, and then deny that we need anything more."
Lets face it. Our performance in Iraq so far, and our continued presence in Iraq, does not in any way reassure our allies about our ability to help and protect them. At the very least, continuing to stay in Iraq reduces our ability to protect our allies by tieing up our military.
I think that if we promptly pull out of Iraq our allies will actually breath a sigh of relief. Not only will our military be freed up so it is available to help them, it also means that we will stop asking them for money and troops to help out in Iraq.
One reason often given for not pulling out of Iraq now is that it would hurt our international reputation, particularly our credibility with our allies. But you have to ask yourself, exactly what reputation and credibility are we preserving by hanging on in Iraq?
The whole world can see that we didn't really think through the invasion of Iraq before we launched it, and they can also see that in the years since then we have consistently failed to apply enough resources and manpower to stabilize the country. We took on something that was bigger than we expected, and then stubbornly pretended that we had things under control when we didn't.
The reputation we have established so far in Iraq is one of biting off more than we can chew, and then failing to commit the resources the situation demands, and all the while denying we have a problem. Why would we want to preserve this reputation? Does anyone think our performance in Iraq so far reassures our allies in any way? Are our allies saying to each other "After seeing the US stay the course in Iraq we know that if we ever get in trouble we can count on the US to send us less help than is needed, and then deny that we need anything more."
Lets face it. Our performance in Iraq so far, and our continued presence in Iraq, does not in any way reassure our allies about our ability to help and protect them. At the very least, continuing to stay in Iraq reduces our ability to protect our allies by tieing up our military.
I think that if we promptly pull out of Iraq our allies will actually breath a sigh of relief. Not only will our military be freed up so it is available to help them, it also means that we will stop asking them for money and troops to help out in Iraq.
posted by AndyfromTucson at 4:50 AM
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