Quote Originally Posted by Gelatinous Cube
Even if we take the welfare of the Iraqis out of the equation, it is imperative we "stay the course" until we succeed in our goal: Set up a stable democracy. We can't afford to "lose" another war.

If we pulled out now, we'd just be losers, like the French. It'd take a looong time for our national ego to recover.
So how many thousand Iraqi lives is America's ego worth? How about the USAs safety? How many innocent people must pay with their lives for that?

I think the only possible solution to the incredible disaster Iraq has become is to make three autonomous states. A kurdish state, a sunni state and a shia state. There will have to be some kind of arrangement where the sunni state receives large ammounts of aid so that they aren't just left with a big chunk of worthless desert in the middle of the country while the kurdish and shia states pave their streets enjoy all the oil wealth.

This will never happen though. The LAST thing the US wants is for the worlds 2nd largest oil reserves to come under Shia control. They might want to join up or make a close alliance with their Shia brothers across the boarder in Iran. Maybe Iran would then decide to nationalise the entire oil industry? Well, from the example of 1953 we know that even a democractic Iran can't be allowed to do that! That would be taking freedom too far.

Off topic - Just noticed you're off to the military soon GC. As a former army officer my advice is simply this: Don't let them mess with your head!