Reply #38: Success in Gen. Clark's mind is that we at least attempt to

[FrenchieCat]

"stabilize" the ME prior to Redeploying....which could be done under the leadership of someone like General Clark, although this Admin isn't interested in doing so.

Remember that our "crime" was committed when we went into Iraq in the first place. Some folks want to think that the answer is to just leave it all behind us right now; today, as though that will make it all better. I wish it was that simple! But the unpleasant truth is that we opened the Pandora's box when we went in, and it's called a Pandora's box for a reason....meaning, leaving tomorrow will not undo what has been done....although, sure, OUR troops would be out of harm's way.

The problem in only being concerned with OUR troops and little else is that WE caused this shit.....and those that think that the only issue is the welfare of our troops, and screw everything else are really blinded to the complexities of the region, and the truth that this shit ain't over......not even by a little bit! Our troops volunteered understanding the chance that they might have to sacrifice their lives....which was NOT what the Iraqi civilian population volunteered for. So I hate to put a premium on our troops' lives while not caring so much about what happens to those who didn't even ask for this shit.....that we caused.

....which is why it is so important that we don't allow the fact that we went over there when we shouldn't have be forgotten....as some Democratic politicians continue to counsel.

Sure, many folks say......if we leave, the violence "might" end....that there is violence over there now explicitly because we are there. But I don't believe that this is the case anymore. I don't believe that the civil war will resolve itself simply because we are out of the equation. Note that this is NOT a laboratory experiment, and cannot be treated as such....cause when all hell breaks loose, are we to just whistle a tune and "hope" for the best? Because, I'll tell you that once we leave, we cannot go back--Ever! Me, personally, am not willing to watch the murders and mayhem that will ensue and act like it ain't our problem whatsover.....because regardless of how far we turn our heads the other way, the lives of many Iraqi civilians will end based on something that we did.....

So although for those who say....oh well, doesn't matter if we are there or not anyways, so we might as well not be there, I do think that U.S. Forces are most likely the only thing keeping that country from completely disintegrating in an even deeper turmoil and chaos than what is there today.......

I do think that things could get much, much worse....and regardless of George Bush....the entire United States is at fault on this one....cause a majority supported this damn war for so long!

The Solution to the Iraq issue is a very difficult one, and thinking that there is an easy solution is foolhearty IMO.....The only easy solution would have been not to have gone in there in the first place.....but it appears to late to utilize that solution at this point.