Quote:
Originally Posted by minnmirman
Its widely accepted that we were wrong to ever invade the country (personal politics aside), but pulling out now would leave the region in a deeper quagmire than it's in now.
|
Read how the Iraq Study Group defined a withdrawal. They studied this problem long ago and arrived at what was and still is our only viable option. Your assumption is that withdrawal is a cut and run out this month. Even that is not possible because America installed itself with intent to stay. Even a withdrawal means over a year. Only alternative is to stay for over a decade. You advocate we stay and keep making enemies for 10 years? That was the Vietnam mentality.
Painfully obvious problem with your reasoning: conclusion violates fundamental military principles AND therefore means a long, protracted, and painful defeat. Welcome to the same reasoning that justified Vietnam. Even American massacres then resulted. Also happened because war was fought by violating fundamental military principles. Yes there are only lose-lose options because a strategic objective is not being achieved.
Fail to take a bigger perspective - worry about little things like the resulting civil war - then end up killing even more and still losing.
Time for worrying about those Iraqi lives were many years ago. I feel your frustration because I saw that problem years ago when something still could be done. Show me a strategic objective that can be achieved? A hint - review how a withdrawal is conducted per ISG. Extremist rhetoric from both extremes says a withdrawal is a complete evacuation. It is not and cannot be accomplished. Show me a strategic objective that can be achieved?