Iraq - Where Do We Go From Here?

At the start of this blog, I mentioned that I was opposed to the United States going to war with Iraq. That was based on the information which had been shared to that point. I was not at all certain the case had been made. I also mentioned (to my shame) that I was largely silent on the issue trusting that our leadership had secret knowledge I did not. I thought they could make a more informed decision. Well, all that is water under the bridge. It doesn't matter whether we should have gone to war in Iraq or not. We are there now. So, what's the best course of action from here?

I don't know. The deed has been done. The Iraqi government that existed at the start of this war has been deposed and is definitely not coming back. That government was a brutal dictatorship, but it did maintain order. It did provide an infrastructure for the Iraqi society. It was a stable government.

I was raised to believe that when you make a mess, it is your responsibility to clean it up. I largely feel that way about our nation's responsibility toward Iraq. Frankly, I still don't want us there, but I am conflicted between my desire to have our forces home and my sense of moral obligation to do right by the Iraqi people.

The biggest question is, "Can we actually do anything to make this right?" If the answer is yes, then we need to do it. If the answer is no, then we need to stop and make an orderly withdrawal.

At first, I thought we could clean up our mess. But the present administration has so bungled managing the war's aftermath, I have no confidence in Bush's ability to set things right. I think perhaps a different administration could, but we won't experience a real change in government for about a year and a half. By that point, the American people will be so sick of this Iraq thing the new President will be hard pressed to get our forces out of Iraq without delay. Without the support of the American public, doing the right thing by Iraq may not be possible.

The Bush administration is not going to willingly pull the United States out of Iraq. Barring some major new development, Congress is not going to force the issue by cutting off funds. Between now and the next administration, the only change we can really hope for must come from the Iraqi people themselves. So far, they don't seem to sense the urgency. It's all quite sad.

That's my two cents.

Wade Houston
September 10, 2007