Iraqi quicksand
Reader comment on item: U.S. Needs To Learn Patience [in Iraq]

Submitted by George Shening (United States), Aug 31, 2005 at 03:36

President Bush's Iraq policy is digging us into a deeper and deeper hole.

Yes, if the U.S. pulls out today, there will be a period of instability in Iraq. However, the insurgence is still relatively weak. If the Iraqi people truly believe in democracy and reject terrorism, the insurgence will be defeated by the Iraqi people. That is the "political solution."
(If Iraqi people can not defeat the insurgence, how can American troops defeat them?)

On the other hand, if the U.S. continues its military presence, the insurgence will grow stronger. The longer we stay, the stronger the insurgence gets. Tipping point will come when the insurgence is able to control a large portion of the population and the hope of Iraqi people defeating the insurgence becomes unattainable.

The lesson of Vietnam is not that we stayed there not long enough. The defeat of the Vietnam "democracy" is because we stayed there too long. It we pulled out right after the Ted Offensive, the South Vietnamese government may well be able to defend themselves and defeat the insurgents.

Pull out now when the insurgence can still be defeated by the Iraqi people – before it's too late. When you are in a quicksand, the strategy is to get out quick, not to wait until your nose is covered by the sand.

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