The Iraq Withdrawal Is Nothing To Brag About -- Max Boot, Commentary
If there is one constant of American military history it is that the longer our troops stay in a country the better the prospects of a successful outcome. Think of Germany, Italy, Japan or South Korea. Conversely when U.S. troops rush for the exits hard-won wartime gains can quickly evaporate. Think of the post-Civil War South, post-World War I Germany, post-1933 (and post-1995) Haiti, post-1972 Vietnam, or, more recently, post-1983 Lebanon and post-1993 Somalia.
Keep that history in mind as you listen to President Obama boast: “As promised, the rest of our troops in Iraq will come home by the end of the year. After nearly nine years, America’s war in Iraq will be over.”
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My Comment: Thousands of Americans killed and wounded, with the Iraqis suffering even more casualties .... the blood and treasure spilled gives a sour taste in anyone's mouth .... and for what is now happening in Iraq, an even more bitter taste. While I am happy to see the U.S. leave that god-forsaken place .... on the other hand, I shudder at what may happen. Max Boot is right that history does not favor the Iraqis, and with this premature withdrawal the chances of Iraq "going off the rails" has now risen appreciably.