The United States is at war with al-Qaeda. When you see Jimmy Carter singing three stanzas of the Battle Hymn of the Republic [4 minutes in], shoulder to shoulder with people he hates, you just have to believe that we're at war. Especially after Congress says so. Twice.
So...
The other side shows no inclination to stop fighting. The current leader of al-Qaeda believes that the conflict in Iraq is the central battle of their struggle, and nearly all of the organization's assets are now bent towards driving the US out of Iraq.
My question is this: How can the US leave Iraq without it being surrender to al-Qaeda? And what will the price of that surrender be? Doesn't seem like it will be good.
Posted by Kevin Murphy at July 10, 2007 09:01 PM | TrackBackYou've summed up the situation well.
If America was clear-headed (not to mention farsighted), the overwhelming consensus of its citizens would be that we must resolve to be in Iraq long term--whether that means 5 years or 50 years--in order secure a victory undeniable even by our enemies.
Whatever the cost of victory, the cost of anything short of victory will be immeasurably higher.
The concept inherent to the 'flypaper strategy' works for me. We should be more than happy if global jihad wants to duke it out against the world's best soldiers in the mean streets of Iraq, as opposed to striking the comparatively soft (and casualty-rich) civilian targets of Mainstreet USA.