1) Saddam was a terrible, aggressive dictator. We took him and his regime out - mission accomplished, we won.
2) The world (including the US) was uncertain, but suspected, that Iraq had stockpiles of WMDs. We went in and verified that there are no stockpiles of WMDs in Iraq - mission accomplished, we won.
Now, what are we sticking around Iraq for? When we talk about "winning" the battle in Iraq, what does that mean? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe there has ever been a country with tribal origins that has adopted a Jeffersonian-style democracy, so if putting that in place is our goal, it will likely never happen. If we want to stick it out until the election in January, that's fine, but can we leave afterwards? If we want to stick around indefinitely to ensure that the Shiites don't slaughter the Sunnis and the Kurds, I don't agree with that - pull back, protect the Kurds that have been our long term allies, and let the Iraqi people figure it out for themselves.
Looking forward, what are we trying to achieve? Won't a long term occupation of Iraq cost us billions of dollars, kill or maim many of our soldiers, and divert us from the task of hunting al Qi'ada?
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kangaroo -- please do not read or respond to any of my posts
2) The world (including the US) was uncertain, but suspected, that Iraq had stockpiles of WMDs. We went in and verified that there are no stockpiles of WMDs in Iraq - mission accomplished, we won.
Now, what are we sticking around Iraq for? When we talk about "winning" the battle in Iraq, what does that mean? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe there has ever been a country with tribal origins that has adopted a Jeffersonian-style democracy, so if putting that in place is our goal, it will likely never happen. If we want to stick it out until the election in January, that's fine, but can we leave afterwards? If we want to stick around indefinitely to ensure that the Shiites don't slaughter the Sunnis and the Kurds, I don't agree with that - pull back, protect the Kurds that have been our long term allies, and let the Iraqi people figure it out for themselves.
Looking forward, what are we trying to achieve? Won't a long term occupation of Iraq cost us billions of dollars, kill or maim many of our soldiers, and divert us from the task of hunting al Qi'ada?
_________
kangaroo -- please do not read or respond to any of my posts