Reply #8: Bemildred, [View All]

[Spector]

Thank you for your remarks. Just to set the record straight; I am already home. I was medically retired (100%) not too long ago. It could have been worse, a few of my troops and a number of my friends were killed.

While I appreciate your position that we shouldn't be there and should come home, it just isn't that simple.

If we were to leave without a steady government in place, Iraq would turn into post U.S.S.R. Afghanistan, or worse. We abandoned Afghanistan after the Soviets left, in that sense we set the stage for 9/11. Had we helped them to create a stable government and country back then, I don't think we would be in the mess we are in today.

Regardless of why we invaded Iraq, we cannot abandon it now. To do so would send a message far and wide that we will run when the going gets tough. From my experience in the region, that is a very bad precedent to make in the Middle East. I would agree that we should bring in international peacekeepers (as stated above) and break the cycle of violence so a viable government can be established.

I further agree that we cannot continue on the path we are on. We must do something to bring real peace to the whole region.

Keep the Faith...