Posted by
Bert Chapman on Monday, September 03, 2007 2:42:51 PM
Later this month, General David Petraeus will release his report to Congress and the President on the status of military efforts in Iraq. Given the recent progress, U.S., Iraqi, and coalition forces have experienced, particularly in Anbar Province, critics of the war effort will clearly be disappointed that Petraeus won't call for throwing in the towel.
Even though Petraeus' report will likely acknowledge that there are significant challenges to success, the report will mention that the surge has had many beneficial effects and that ultimate results in Iraq cannot be dependent on the short-term political time frame of next year's presidential election or on the infantile attention spans of antiwar critics.
Those individuals favoring a quick U.S. military withdrawal from Iraq are asking for all kinds of trouble for the Iraqi people, regional Mideast stability, the effect on the U.S. military, and the affect on the U.S.' ability to respond to future national security crises and conduct a protracted war against Islamist terror. I strongly recommend that all who are concerned with Iraq's future, regardless of where they stand on the war, read "Iraq and the Consequences of Failure" by the noted foreign affairs and national security analyst Max Boot. This article appears in the newest issue of Australian Army Journal at www.defence.gov.au/army/lwsc/Publications/journal/AAJ_Winter2007/journal%209.htm
It provides an invigorating slap of cold water in the face of any war critic who thinks a premature withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq would be consequence free for U.S. national interests, security conditions in Iraq, and regional security conditions. It shows that however bad things might seem now, they would be made worse by a preliminary U.S. withdrawal.