[VRW Conspirator]

And none of these critics will hesitate to blame Bush...

True! If the critics think it was irresponsible to go into Iraq, then to go into Iraq and bail out at some crucial point is grossly irresponsible. I do not like the idea of footing a bil for nation building. Yet, having a permanent US friendly presence squarely in the middle east is an outpost against terrorism and a good idea. When these lawmakers weigh the cost of the immediate expenses, they would be wise to weigh the future costs of not supporting Iraq being rebuilt. Whichever way they go will not be pretty.

[.cnI redruM]

So, assuming we have agreement on your point about the critics, there just isn't much of an upside to Ron Paul's stand on this issue. At best, Paul is a nuissance who's quotes will frequently pepper Howard Dean and Wesley Clarke's political diatriabes in support of the Democratic Party's anti-Bush Jihad. At worst, Ron Paul convinces more and more of his cohorts to pull the scaffold from under the fledgling Iraqui government and acts as a sarcoma, attacking a new born infant.

[bc2]

"a permanent US friendly presence squarely in the middle east"

Like Afghanistan? No, wait, it was Iran. Oops, it was Saudi Arabia. No, sorry, I meant Egypt...