Why? It seems imminently sensible to me.
Keep in mind that unless they're completely insane and suicidal, the Iraqi council *won't* be stupid enough to ask us to leave. They know that we're the only thing keeping the jihadists from mounting their heads on spikes.
But it's a very smart PR move to say that if we *are* asked to leave once the Iraqis are officially running their own country, we will. This reinforces the fact that they *are* running their country and aren't just a US puppet. And it deflects accusations that the US is going to be an "eternal occupier", since it underscores that we're there because the ruling Iraqis *want* us there (if even for their own protection), not because we force ourselves upon them. That'll take a lot of steam out of the jihadists' rhetoric as well.
It also serves as a reminder to the new Iraqi rulers that unless they want us there for eternity, they need to start getting a move on and training/deploying their own homegrown security forces, so that we *can* eventually leave, someday down the road.
Bingo! I think we have a winner. Well stated.
Does nobody here remember Viet Nam? We were there "at the request of their government", too.
I have noticed lately that there have been so much second guessing going on about the way this administration is handling the war on terror, that I have created a new tag for them.
I wonder about those that see every action that does not meet their pre-conceived notion of "victory" as a set back and how we are losing.
For those that lose heart so quickly, I would remind you that the purpose of going into Iraq was not to take over the country, it was to capture or kill Saddam, and his administration of terror. That job is done, anything else that occurs in Iraq is icing on the cake. If we can kill a few more potential terrorist without too much trouble good, but there is no point in destroying a city of 250,000 people to get rid of a few cockroaches.
President Bush gave Saddam and ultimatum, get out of town by 5 or I am coming to get you. Saddam did not leave, and at 5 we went in and got him, and destroyed his government. We could have left at that point, but we decided to take the risk and help Iraq at least get back on its feet.
Some time in the near future, President Bush is going to make another ultimatum, and who ever this is addressed to will have seen Afghanistan and Iraq fall within a matter of a few weeks. That leader will know that they are in the cross hairs, and there will only be one outcome, his death or capture. What is he going to do?
Osama's one weapon, public opinion, make it so bad that the United States turn tail and run. In this he is helped by the left in this country, and our fair weather friends in Europe, do we on this forum want to assist Osama by complaining about every thing that occurs in Iraq?
The one thing that is becoming clear, President Bush is not Johnson, or Nixon, or Carter, and certainly not like Clinton. President Bush has decided on a course of action, and public opinion (or polls) will not sway him from his goals. This is what scares the left more then anything. Up to now, the average politician had only one goal in mind, and that is re-election. I don't think that is President Bush's goal. To Clinton, being President was the goal (others around him wanted the power that goes with the office) but for Clinton, the title and perks was all he wanted and so he was not willing to take on the tough task and as such easily swayed by public opinion (and why he really was not embarrassed over the sex scandal.)
On another, but similar subject, I believe the left in this country have lost their moral anchor, and there is a reason for this.
We (on the right) often complain about the double standard (when someone on the left says are does something stupid, the media gives them a pass, and when someone on the right does something stupid they demand they be punished). There is a silver lining because of this.
The right, must always be careful about what they do or say while the left, having no restrictions can allow their most base thoughts excape out into the world. Without any self editing, the left are beginning to show their real face, and the Amerian people are able to see what they really think and believe. This is a good thing for our side.
The left has made as much progress as they have by hiding their true agenda and hate for this country. President Bush is driving them over the edge, and they honestly believe they have to get him out of office.
There is a reason they want him out of office, do any of you know? I will give you a hint, the Supreme Court.
Who ever wins the 2004 election will be naming at least one, perhaps more Supreme Court judge. This will be the one thing that the next President does while in office that will have the most lasting effect on this nation. The left knows this, do we?
So if you want to help Osama, and you want to help Kennedy and his friends on the left, just keep up the petty sniping at President Bush.