Reply #8: I disagree

[Grooner Five]

I think your view is a little disingenuous. I was never very fond of this invasion (though I had no illusions about the monster Saddam was), and think we've opened up a terrible can of worms. But it looks to me like there are currently two choices for Iraq:

Foment democracy through blunt force, or concede to folks who are repulsive enough to target civilians with the intent of causing chaos and reinstalling a Baathist dictatorship - to the diminishing of other Iraqi ethnic minorities.

I can't see rewarding terrorism and abandoning our promise to the Iraqis (misguided as it may be). To do so would be a tragedy for the United States, and a boost to thugs, dictators, and the fundamentalist Islamists. Those are some very bad guys, and make Jesse Helms look tolerant by comparison.

We're stuck in Iraq, so I think we should make the best of it and do our finest to leave the country better than we found it. Right now there are two sides in that country - those that want democracy to take hold, and those who would rather retain power over a majority by force. Lets not pretend the latter is a better option based on blind allegiance to either the underdog or the pacifist movement.