43's Folly

The President's argument against redeploying our troops from Iraq President's Address to the Nation is, "This would bring Al Qaida closer to its goals of taking down Iraq's democracy, building a radical Islamic empire, and launching new attacks on the United States at home and abroad."

Are we sure? What will happen when we leave Iraq? This fearsome question should have been asked before we sent in troops...as in worse case scenario. But now the question stands before us, an unyielding visitor that cannot be ignored. Since this administration neglected to make use of trial-and-error problem-solving, Iraq is an imbroglio today. So would it make any difference at all when we leave?

Nearly four thousand years ago, in 1950 B.C., the Elamites Iraq invaded the land where Iraq currently lies. Later the Mongols attacked Baghdad A timeline of the Arabs, the Turks and the Persians. There has been invasion after invasion among Turkey, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Britain and Iraq throughout the centuries. And various warlords continue to fight as they have always fought for power and control. Iraq lives in history as a boiling cauldron of destabilized upheaval.

In 1920 after the British occupation and subsequent fall of Turkey, the Iraqi’s became dissatisfied, because the Brits did not fulfill their promise of sovereignty. So Iraq waged war against them British Colonialism and repression in Iraq- Global Policy Forum .... Britain quickly realized that a military solution was impossible. Iraq could not be contained.

We cannot change a culture ingrained for millenniums. But we can learn from history. We might possibly tie Iraq’s boundaries to its various groups of inhabitants. Ultimately, though, will it make a difference now whether or not we accelerate or redeploy? Not to Iraq. The sands of her borders will continue to shift and blood will run.

But it should matter to us. We have the power to halt the destruction of our soldiers, their families, innocent Iraqi citizens and our economic security. This war was lost before it began. Yes, we stirred up a hornet’s next. And we can continue in this ineffective manner. Or not. Either way, a multitude of people have been badly stung.