The morality of abandoning Iraq: Why we should stay.

[Meldread]

I am not in total agreement with the majority of this board, those who wish to have an immediate pull out of Iraq - to simply pick up and leave. On a moral level we systematically bombed and destroyed an entire nation. It may take as many as fifteen to twenty years to rebuild itself back to a point equal to where it stood BEFORE we invaded. Countless innocents have been slain by our hands. In good conscience, I could not condone simply leaving as if nothing happened. I cannot condone leaving the Iraqi's to their own fate - a fate we have played a key role in creating for them.

We broke Iraq. We must carry that burden. American's may not like that - too bad. The majority of American's supported the invasion of Iraq, now they must carry the burden of that choice. Decisions have consequences. It is the height of arrogance to believe that we should - or that we even could - escape the consequences of our actions. To do so is to invite the same mistakes to be repeated in the future. Perhaps carrying the burden of Iraq will forever remind us of the folly of our actions, and humble us to be more rational in the future.

However, I do agree that we cannot continue with the same approach. We simply cannot rebuild the country. Two large factions within Iraq are hell bent on killing each other and we are being killed by trying to keep both of them at bay. If we leave, they will slaughter each other and the entire region could fall into chaos. Iran will gain a "new" western province. We cannot avoid the realities that will have on the region, the geopolitical realities it will have around the world, and the effect it will have on us here at home.

I didn't agree with going to war with Iraq. I disagreed with it from the very beginning. I've had family serving in Iraq. Yet here we are - in Iraq - now what? That is really the question that no one has an answer to: "now what"? We destroyed their nation, demoralized and dehumanized their people, indirectly created a civil war, and have failed at every objective we set out to accomplish - now what?

Personally, I think we are faced with very few options. We cannot save the Iraqi's from themselves. If they wish to engage in a civil war, then we can do nothing to stop it. Our goal should instead focus on the moderates, those who just want to live their lives in peace, and to have safety for their families. Let the radicals and fanatics kill each other if that is their goal. Save those who wish to be saved.

I would propose that we build bases in the more remote regions of Iraq, and that we actively undermine their so-called "government". It has failed on every objective. Their government is nothing more than a two faced puppet - one face for the United States and one face for Iran. The government actively favors Iran. Undermine them and get rid of them. There is no point in having a middle man. Forget democracy in Iraq - it is not going to happen. Not in the near future.

With bases built in the more remote regions of the country (at key locations) we should actively seek out Iraqi's who want to get away from the chaos. Use those bases as oasis's of stability in an otherwise chaotic country. Provide security, homes, jobs, and all the necessities for life. Let new communities and settlements grow up around those bases. Extend the influence outward as the years pass. Only engage insurgents through air strikes - do not risk American lives. Prevent Iranian influence through killing or imprisoning any leaders that arise within the country who support Iran.

In effect, we would be digging in and waiting out the insurgents. We will let them kill each other off as we actively ensure that they are in a constant state of chaos, and as time goes on they will turn upon one another as warlords step forward, fighting over scraps of land. Meanwhile, in our oasis's of stability, sane and rational Iraqi's will be influenced by Western ideals - democracy, secularism and equal rights. Their children will be educated in these things.

Fifteen to twenty years from now I could imagine the insurgency dying out, and perhaps - influenced by the western world - a democracy coming to fruition in Iraq. A true democracy, one born from the people and not imposed by a foreign power.

This could be accomplished by withdrawing our troops from bases located in peaceful nations such as Germany and other European countries, and relocating them to Iraq. It would not be necessary for a "surge" or an escalation of the war. We would no longer be fighting, unless to defend the innocent from attack.

I know a lot of people will disagree with this idea. The vast majority of people here want to leave Iraq and never look back, but how can anyone morally justify it? Sure, most Iraqi's want us gone - but more than that I believe Iraqi's want to live in peace and stability. Iraq as it stands will be neither, and it will become much worse if we leave. I would encourage people to read this story, and to also read this story in the Washington Post.

On my son Dubhaltach’s last trip to Iraq he was approached no less than 5 times by young parents asking him to take their children. Not even selling the poor kids. They’d been driven beyond and below even that level of desperation. No, all they wanted for him to just “please take them so that they can eat.” I find it impossible to describe how Erdla and myself felt as Dubhaltach broke down helplessly describing how he wished he could have done what they wanted. As he tried to tell us how he felt when he was approached by a recently widowed young woman offfering him her eight year old daughter and seven year old son:

“They are good children. Very beautiful.

Pause:

“They are good children. Very obedient.

Pause:

“Take them, feed them, they are very obedient. They will do anything you want

Significant Pause and then in a whisper:

“Anything…”

Can we really leave the Iraqi's to this, after we directly caused it? This is our fault. We have a moral responsibility to try and fix it as best we can. It will never be "right", and nothing will make up for what we have done, but that still does not mean we can walk away from the responsibility to try. America supported this war. America must bear the responsibility. People can hurl insults at Bush all they want, but if anyone wants to know who is really to blame all they have to do is look next door or in the mirror. America supported Bush and his misbegotten war and now everyone must live with the consequences of that choice.

Flame away.