Putting Iraq into Perspective

Is it unpatriotic to ask if the major reason for the fighting in Iraq is that we are still there?
-Richard Clarke

It's important to understand that the insurgency within Iraq now is just as strong as it was a year ago, and that insurgents of this class have lasted 7 to 12 years in similar wars; two observations made by the soon to retire head of the U.S. military, General Richard B. Myers. American casualties doubled last month, not to mention the 33% increase in Iraqi casualties and 75% increase in Iraq police deaths within the same month. Projected costs for the war are reaching 600 billion by the end of Bush's term in office; six times what was initially pitched to the American people. Army recruiters are coming up dry, and National Guards are being relocated into Iraq by the hundreds. According to Pentagon sources, our military is at its smallest and most vulnerable stance since after WWII, at a time when the North Korean threat is becoming increasingly imminent. If North Korea advances to the Southern border, the United States would be ill-equipped to defend our allies or defend ourselves. That's a fact.

It's easy to catalogue problems, but much more difficult to provide answers. Would an Iraq retreat instigate chaos--but don't we already have chaos? Are we perpetuating democracy or are we perpetuating death? I'’ve been ambivalent on this issue throughout my posts/articles: bad idea, but we have to stay the course or cut our losses and leave.