Red, I realize that the Sunni insurgents are fighting the Al Qaeda foreigners, but personally, I feel that it's not nearly as bad as it could be because of the U.S. presence there. The Iraqi people were held in submission for so long under Saddam that they still don't really have the cojones to step up and fight for themselves, and taking pot shots back and forth doesn't really help. I just think that if we give up and leave now, Iraq is going to implode and become a birthplace for terrorism. That could only lead to bad things for us in the future, either domestically or for our interests abroad. I, for one, have no problem with seeing this through and actually look forward to my opportunity to go over there and support the fight (which could be as early as the end of this year). A lot of my buddies in the military feel the same way.
If we leave Iraq now, it will implode, I have no doubt. As to how that implosion will turn out, in a year or in 10 years, well it is not clear at all that after a period of unrest Iraq will necessarily become the birthplace of terrorism. There is a great many options that could occur. The Sunnis are killing some AQ now, it is there country, and they have money, unlike Afghanistan, who needed the cash from Bin Laden. Iraq does not. I don't think Iraqis want or need AQ in their country. They are accepted for the moment because they both want the Americans out, but if we got out their shared objective is gone. Then the Iraqis could kick out AQ. The country could partition, if no political compromise is found where all parties find value in staying together. The distrust Saddam fostered will work against a united state. The question I have is if we stay 10 years and leave, is there any assurance the country would not disintegrate then, and with the distrust and desires to go there own way, particularly the Kurds, it is not clear to me that staying will accomplish anything. We hope it would, but is there any rational reason to maintain that hope? There is no evidence to indicate that to me. Your personal objectives are admirable, you sound like a great person. You are a winner already!
Many Iraqis feel differently. Sunnis and Shiites have been fighting each other for a thousand years. Only the iron boot of Saddam kept the lid on. Our presence keeps them divided. They struggle for power and blame us for all consequences. If we were gone, they would quickly drive out the foreign terrorists and get back to the fight with each other and perhaps start to hammer out some compromises. It's not our fight, Bro. The Iraqi people have taken up arms and are killing Americans who are supposed to be there to help them. Why didn't they use this yearning to be free to overthrow Saddam? How can 50,000 Baathists control 26 million people? Well, it can't be a birthplace, arab terrorism has been here since the 70's. And I don't think it will become a base because we wont let it. We don't have to withdraw any further than Kuwait and Kurdistan and we can come back if they displease us. They won't want us back. They won't give us an excuse to come back. We'll still have air superiority and can flatten any Al Qaida bases. We can keep Iran from invading them the same way. Redeploying is militarily smart, it is not a weakness. Well, you are the kind of guy we need out there. It's your job and your enthusiasm is important and damned appreciated. All of you. I hope there is a young Saltyone behind every heavy machine gun in the Corps, too. But I think you are being used badly in endless patrolling in this occupation, taking casualties without reason. It's not a fight we can win this way. We are going to need you guys to be ready for the next fight. One that we can fight our way with airpower, seapower and mobile ground forces, instead of the enemies style of knife fights and ambushes with no front line and no geographic objectives. It's time to make the Ragheads step up and get it done themselves. And they won't if we keep doing it for them. The Iraqi army will never be as good as you guys, never good enough at all, but they must get in the fight and start fugging up. It's the only way they are going to get better.
