What kind of idiot thinks it’s a good idea to broadcast when and how we plan to leave Iraq?
Last week the Democratic-led Senate voted to pass legislation extending funding for the troops in Iraq while setting the haven’t-they-settled-this-dang-thing-yet deadline for withdrawing.
Let me first define again my point of view on politics. No, I do not think we should have gone to war in Iraq. Unlike others, I have held this position since before the war and did not believe then or now that Iraq was linked to al Qaeda. I have understood the reasoning of confronting extremists in a foreign land to avoid casualties in our country as well as setting up permanent bases near our enemies such as Iran.
I understood; I did not agree.
As an independent, I rely on practicality and reason in deciding how I spend my political energies. While this obviously rules me out from running for office, it does not prevent me from giving a damn. But none of that matters because we are there now.
We made the mess and need to clean it up. We don’t have the right to leave now while their nation is in chaos. And if we are to leave, why tell everyone when we will do it?
“Excuse us. We know you’re having trouble knowing where we will be at certain times so you can shoot at us or try to blow us up. Please accept this invitation to attend our exit. No need to R.S.V.P., as you tend to make your presence known with a bang.”
Idiots.
Have you ever watched an old western gun battle where the sheriff yells out, “OK, maybe we just need to call a truce. I’m going home now. Please don’t shoot!”
I think that’s the recipe for dead sheriff. Why do you think they call it a trap when a movie villain asks the detective hero to meet him at an abandoned warehouse at midnight? (Thanks, CNN, for giving an in-depth report on what routes our military will use to leave.)
And while we don’t like soldiers dying or coming home wounded (especially to Veterans Affairs hospitals), how bad do you think it will be once we deicide to go? Every step of every mile will be filled with attempts to harm our soldiers and demoralize us.
Do you think al Qaeda will look at it as our wanting peace? No, and while their television news programs will show the bodies of our slain military personnel, their propaganda will characterize it as a retreat borne out of our weak stomachs for the realities of war.
They could be right.
My grandfather, a Texan and a World War II veteran, had a saying: If you’re going to shoot, empty the gun. In other words, don’t start something you’re not going to finish.
Think about it. The last war we fought in that ended well was WWII. We, as a nation, committed fully to the effort and, after winning, took the necessary measures to rebuild defeated nations to prevent resentment in future generations. (Remember why that war started?)
Since then, we have continually had half-successes of military endeavors we were half-committed to by half-ass leaders.
Democrats and Republicans need to commit fully to Iraq.
If we don’t stay and fix it, our children will have to.
If they’re alive.