Why We Must Stay in Iraq

Washington Post ^ | 9/4/05 | Victor Davis Hanson

[Crackingham]

Vietnam is once again in the air. Last month's antiwar demonstrations in Crawford, Tex., have been heralded as the beginning of an antiwar movement that will take to the streets like the one of 30 years ago. Influential pundits -- in the manner of a gloomy Walter Cronkite after the Tet offensive -- are assuring us that we can't win in Iraq and that we have no option but a summary withdrawal. We may even have a new McGovern-style presidential "peace" candidate in Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold.

America's most contentious war is being freely evoked to explain the "quagmire" we are supposedly now in. Vietnam is an obvious comparison given the frustration of asymmetrical warfare and savage enemies who escape our conventional power. But make no mistake, Iraq is not like Vietnam, and it must not end like Vietnam. Despite our tragic lapses, leaving now would be a monumental mistake -- and one that we would all too soon come to regret.

If we fled precipitously, moderates in the Middle East could never again believe American assurances of support for reform and would have to retreat into the shadows -- or find themselves at the mercy of fascist killers. Jihadists would swell their ranks as they hyped their defeat of the American infidels. Our forward strategy of hitting terrorists hard abroad would be discredited and replaced by a return to the pre-9/11 tactics of a few cruise missiles and writs. And loyal allies in Eastern Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia and Japan, along with new friends in India and the former Soviet republics, would find themselves leaderless in the global struggle against Islamic radicalism.

[Vigilanteman]

Today, most Americans are indeed very troubled over the war in Iraq -- but mostly they are angry about not winning quickly, rather than resigned to losing amid recriminations.

Wow, how did this guy ever get past the Washington ComPost censors? I'm livid that they let jihadists out of Abu Ghraib and even more livid we didn't shoot the POS on recapture.

Personally, I think we should tell Iraq that it is no skin off our nose if they want to subdivide into three or more countries. U.S. troops will remain to stabalize and aid any subdivisions who want us and provide a friendly infrastructure. We will ignore those who leave us alone. We will destroy any who aid, abet or harbor terrorists. Mosques which are used to recruit terrorists, serve as their santuary, stash arms and organize attacks will be treated as legitimate military targets. Period.

[BCrago66]

It's good to see VDH's editorials outside National Review Online, where his contributions are quite good, but at the same time not too valuable, because he's preaching to the choir.

[Sam Cree]

read later

[Tolik]

    Victor Davis Hanson Ping ! 

       Let me know if you want in or out

[afnamvet]

Another great read from VDH...thanks for the ping.

[Valin]

Nor is our army in Iraq conscript, but volunteer and professional. The Iraqi constitutional debate is already light-years ahead of anything that emerged in Saigon.

OR I could add the early years of our republic.
Example: it was 1920 that 1/2 the population got the right to vote.

[Valin]

Today, most Americans are indeed very troubled over the war in Iraq -- but mostly they are angry about not winning quickly,

How many times has the President said this is going to be a long war.

The problem is the MSM very rarely puts out anything good coming out of Iraq.
It's up to us to set the record straight.

[Always Right]

The biggest similarity between Iraq and Vietnam is that liberals are pulling out all stops to see that we lose it.

[april15Bendovr]

Two easy quotes for the left wing loving misery spread equal demagogue nitwits. If you come across them please remind them.

"If your not apart of the solution your part of the problem."

"Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those that are in the process of doing it."

[AZLiberty]

Have we forgotten that Iraq before the invasion was not just another frightening Middle East autocracy like Syria or Libya, but a country in shambles -- not, as some will say, because of international sanctions, but thanks to one of the worst regimes on the planet, with a horrific record of genocide at home and regional aggression abroad?

Despite Iraq's oil riches, the Iraqi people were at least as bad off after 30 years of Saddam as the Soviets were after 70 years of Communism. They will not recover overnight, but we're helping them establish the constitutional and social conditions for a sustained recovery.