Could you explain to me why we should care if a bunch of Sunnis and Shias kill each other off? Were it me, I’d put a wall up by where the Kurds live and let those scumsuckers have at it. But why is it our business to keep them apart? Hasn’t helped us any, nor made much headway in settling their centuries-old disagreements... It’s just making us more enemies on BOTH sides. Plus costing OUR kids’ lives and tons of taxpayer dollars we can ill afford.
I’ll be looking for your answer.
Consider the geopolitical ramifications of what would happen if Iraq descends into a bloodbath, shortly followed by Iranian control, should the United States withdraw. Consider that the true enemies - Iran-backed terrorists capitalizing on long-standing hatred between the formerly-oppressed Shiites and the formerly-Saddam backed Sunnis of Iraq - are those who follow the words of the Koran to the letter, to the point where all moderate Muslims are considered heretics worthy of extermination. Do you really think the Iraqis that truly want peace for future generations are interested in the words of those who kill them and their children via suicide bombs?
One last thing: consider that we are talking about a region of the world that has been mired within the reign of madmen for millenia. The lone exception is the nation of Israel, and they're under attack day by day. Consider that a vast majority of the Muslim populace are illiterate and uneducated, easy playthings for cunning warlords who despise Israel and Western Civilization (we should now; the liberal public education system has been doing a fine job indoctrinating lots of children these days). Do you have any idea of what could happen if a Western-backed, STABLE democracy - also an ally of the United States - was fully implemented into that hotbed of terrorism? The potential ramifications of a free (I use that term relatively, compared to most of the Middle East Muslim governments) society? We can see some effects now in Afghanistan. We're still at work in Iraq. Pulling out now, before the country is as stable as we can get it, would be disastrous for the Iraqis, for the moral spirit of America, and for our image as the world's lone superpower: what ally would dare trust us anymore, if we surrender after a less than 5,000 deaths in the field of battle? Don't get me wrong, but we've dealt with far more staggering losses in SINGLE battles within previous wars. As has been said, war is Hell, and we engaged in war. Now the only two acceptable paths are victory through a stable Iraq, or surrender without victory, complete with a disgraced United States and a weakened Iraq ripe for the plundering by Iran and other interested parties.
Were it me, I’d put a wall up by where the Kurds live and let those scumsuckers have at it.
On some level, I agree with you; the Kurds - with some help in part due their geographical closeness with democratic Turkey - have come a long way. If there were any sect I'd want to be allies with, it'd be them. But alas, the elected Iraqi Constitution and the elected government did not call for a separation into three states. Perhaps in the future, the Iraqis will do so of their own free will. But let's refocus on the now.
But why is it our business to keep them apart?
It was made our business when the elected Bush Administration decided declaring War on Iraq and Saddam Hussein - using intelligence that most of the world agreed was true - was in our best interests, along with ensuring the creation of a new, democratic government. The American people elected him again 2004, and we have that policy still in place.
Don't get me wrong, I wish we had done a few things differently. I wish that we had less PC ROE. I wish that our media weren't such traitorous scum that they ignore all good news and focus on the bad, painting a horrific picture that's not equal to reality. I wish the Democrats weren't power-hungry, treasonous fools. I wish the Republican Party as a whole had been more conservative and had more spine and more courage against the Dems and the MSM. But wishing is just wishing. By 2009, there will be a new Administration, and most likely new changes. Perhaps we will withdraw from Iraq before the job is done. Perhaps we might allow our troops to fight as they should fight in a war: with all they have. Heck, the Iraq War might be OVER by 2008. We just don't know. Bush still has less than 2 years to go.
Hasn’t helped us any, nor made much headway in settling their centuries-old disagreements...
Catholics and Protestants still carry some resentment against each other, but they've come a LONG way since the days of the Reformation of the Church, followed by a bloodletting of grand proportions between Catholics and Protestants in Medieval Europe. But Western society evolved differently than Middle Eastern society; the ideals of Christianity and the radical (back then) ideas of philosophers and idealists such as John Locke led to an advanced, more civil, more moral society; the remnants of that Europe that split away due to discontent with the local governments (such as the monarchy of Britain) eventually would form America, the greatest country on Earth.
Meanwhile, Middle Eastern society has been retarded for centuries still, due to powermad warlords and corrupt religious figures who care more about spreading by the sword to expand their power, the welfare and livlihood of those who follow them be damned. For if the Muslims had the same opportunity and the same education as most Americans, would you doubt that most of them would revolt in a heartbeat (Oh wait, some Iranians are revolting now...wonder why.)? They would dearly love - men and women (ESPECIALLY women) alike - the opportunities we have. But they have been indoctrinated to hate, hate, and hate some more from a young age. And that is a crime so heinous that it should be looked upon as one of the grossest of evils mankind can produce.
It’s just making us more enemies on BOTH sides.
To make an omelet, you have to break a few eggs. Short-term, yes, that is true...long-term? Can't say for sure. Depends on the success of a democratic Iraq. Depends on whether the people desire individual freedom enough that they are willing to go through the hardship required. It takes a long time to move past a lifetime of oppression; being under the thumb of a tyrant for most of your life will tend to remove any tendency to take any risk. Imagine it from the average Iraqi's view: you see an America, divided and arguing against itself about whether to help you and the rest of Iraq. You see terrorists attacking your fellow Iraqis daily. You see an international community almost ENTIRELY dedicated to seeing that you don't obtain freedom. And you have just come out from years of oppression, where you learned that it is easier to survive by complying with the rule of tyrants than it is to stand up for what you want. Couple in the "HATE AMERICA!" propaganda being pumped into your ears daily by al Jazeera, adding to your distrust of the Americans' capability to free you and your countrymen.
Sounds depressing?
That's what I imagine the mindset of the average Iraqi is like. Not a pretty sight, don't you agree?
Plus costing OUR kids’ lives and tons of taxpayer dollars we can ill afford.
Let me focus on the tax dollars portion first: a simple solution to this would be to lessen the amount of money being sent to welfare programs and to restructure the tax system. It's up to the Administration (be it Bush or the next one) to implement this, so this is where Americans let their voices be heard. Work to vote and elect conservatives who WILL lessen the socialist programs of our government. Then we can worry less about the tax dollars going to our war-fighting efforts. It would take effort. Lots of it. But so is anything worth fighting for. We held Bush's feet to the fire on Miers and other things. It's not unthinkable to think future Administrations can't have the same done to them (though electing someone who would pursue such measures anyway - a la Duncan Hunter - would be far less strenuous, you know?).
As for our soldiers...well, let me ask you one thing.
Why are they still volunteering?
Why?
Is it possible that they think this is a cause worth fighting for? That the people they see daily in Iraq want freedom, and are worth freedom? The tree of liberty must often be watered with the blood of tyrants to show how strong the very idea of freedom is...and she must often be fertilized with the blood of patriots who wish to see her grow strong.
Saddam, Al Qaeda, and the terrorists backed by Iran are the tyrants. Much of their blood has been shed already. New targets will arise in the new future, in my opinion.
Our men and women in the Armed Forces, who volunteered willingly, are the patriots. And I applaud their bravery and courage to fight for an ideal so many in this world are losing faith in: that freedom and liberty is something worth sharing and nurturing to all of the people in the world, and that sometimes sacrifices will be made to ensure that freedom does live on.
I’ll be looking for your answer.
Here's my final answer.
I'm just a 19-year old conservative man. I'm just a sophomore in college with a major in Mathematics. I'm still naive. I'm still lacking in the wisdom of my peers.
And I can't tell the future.
Only history will be the ultimate judge. Ultimately, history will tell whether or not the experiment that is a democratic Iraq succeeded or failed. Ultimately, history will determine whether the United States was made stronger or weaker, either by standing by Iraq till the end, or by abandoning her in her hour of need.
But I do know this.
On September 11, 2001, less than two dozen men hijacked airplanes with box cutters, killing 3,000 American lives. They vowed more attacks, with the support of those who would see that the United States fails: Iran, North Korea, China, Russia, and all those who supported Saddam, al Qaeda, and the Taliban with weapons and other forms of aid.
We responded.
We are still responding.
We are fighting them over there, instead of over here.
Soldiers who volunteered to fight are dying, instead of citizens like those on Flight 93, who did not choose to be hijacked by those seeking to do harm to our country.
And to think our enemies will not capitalize on America's retreat - as advocated by the Democrat Party and Ron Paul - is shortsighted, considering the nature of our enemy, and the weapons they seek to use.
Does my answer satisfy you?
My easy answer to solve this mess:
Give the Kurds their own state. Trade Iran southern Iraq for its border provinces that are Kurdish. Give the rest of Iraq to Syria.
The Kurds are fine.. The Iranians and Syrians will impose peace in about two days.
Problem solved.
Plus, we have the benefit of a border between Syria and Iran where the populations don't like each other, thus fomenting conflict between Iran and Syria.