I believe that we should not only withdraw from Iraq as quickly as possible, but that we should withdraw from every other country in the world where we have troops and close all of our military bases on foreign soil. I am considered by friends and others across the political spectrum to be extremely naïve for these opinions. However, there was a time in our history when many people believed in this VERY strongly, but that time has clearly long since passed.
Specifically for Iraq, even those who claim to be anti-war (and support so-called "anti-war" candidates like Obama**) will respond to me and say "but if we withdraw immediately, Iraq will collapse and be worse off than they are now", which in my mind should be the example sentence for "arrogance" in the dictionary. Who are we to decide what's best for another country? What if another country decided that our President was dangerous and homicidal and invaded and occupied us. We wanted them to leave, but they decided it's better for us if they stay.
If we really believe in "spreading democracy" around the world, here's a radical idea: Let's help Iraq hold a national election. Tally up the votes and see if the people of Iraq want our troops to stay or want us to leave. Perhaps the people of Iraq are willing to accept the risk of possible further collapse in order to have their own country back.
"What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans, and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty and democracy" -- Mahatma Gandhi
**Here is Obama's Iraq strategy, which basically says he'll withdraw SOME troops in 16 months, then leave some troops behind, maybe forever depending on what happens. And no mention of asking the Iraqi people what they want. And no mention of dozens of other countries where we have troops and military bases. Whatever happened to pacifism in this country?
