The Iraq train is leaving the station - who will pick up the pieces?
My wife and I have running disagreement on the U.S. involvement in Iraq. From day one she’s been against it and refused to support it, I was against our reasons for going, but supported the action (and the responsibilities associated with that decision) until my statement yesterday that it was time to go.
My decision followed in the footsteps of former Virginia governor and GOP presidential candidate Jim Gilmore’s recent letter to President Bush (published as an OpEd in the Washington Post) indicating the need for a “third way” in Iraq and Indiana Senator Richard Lugar’s comments that the surge is not working. Both the Gilmore letter and Lugar’s comments helped to solidify my thinking. And yesterday after my post (though I’m confident it had little to do with it), Ohio Senator George Voinovich voiced his opinion that the time has come for a new direction in Iraq.
It’s clear that the train for supporting the war in Iraq is leaving the station - the only question now is what should be done about the mess.
What’s interesting to me is the position that folks like my wife and many on the left continue to maintain about what we owe the Iraqis when the almost certain drawdown of US forces occurs. The left says, “they’ve had their chance. They’ve been given an open checkbook and they have nothing to show for the investment. We should get out now and bid them good riddance. Let the UN and their Middle Eastern neighbors figure it out.”
Such a vacation of responsibility is unacceptable to me (and many of those who once supported our actions, but have chosen to look for a “third way”). Our country has a responsibility to finish what it started and if (as I said yesterday) we can’t do it in their country, we should at least have the decency to bring anyone who wants back to our country. After our last tour of destruction through Iraq, Saddam sought vengeance upon all of those who aided the US - do you think the next regime will be any less retaliatory?
We have a solemn obligation to those whose lives we interrupted - let’s bring them home with us so we never have to go back again.
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Most estimates put the number of refugees from the Iraq War at about 2 million. In Feb 2007, the Admin proposed allowing 20,000 asylum seekers this year. So far, 701 have been allowed to enter the US and it seems the 20,000 number has been decreased to 7,000. (see links below) One of the problems with trying to find a “solution” to the Iraq War is thinking that there is a solution. There is none–it’s just a choice between very bad and worse options. Perhaps the lesson to be gleaned is to not elect a man (or woman) for President whom revels in being ignorant of the world? Links:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,250595,00.html
http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Trickle_of_Iraqi_refugees_allowed_i_06202007.html