Our Moral Obligation?

[Jim Bonewald]

I posted this on another forum, but since it is an important topic, I post it here too for discussion:

With democrats considering pushing for a partial pull-out from Iraq, our local newspaper ran an article this morning that had a number of quotes from the 'public' about Iraq. Most folks quoted seemed slanted toward a complete pull-out.



From the beginning I've said we never should have gone to Iraq in the first place, but now that we are there, is it morally responsible to totally pull-out and leave the Iraqi's do fend for themselves? As a Christian, I have serious reservations with our leaving and letting the chips fall where they may.

[John Hougen]

I had the opportunity to hear Barak Obama speak here in Indee yesterday. He addressed this issue. He is one politician who has been against the Iraq conflict from the beginning. However, he supports a 16 month pull out. This makes a lot of sense. I can still remember Viet Nam and the phased pull out that occurred there. Being a military brat I appreciated Obama's response - we have to pull out of Iraq in a way that protects our troops in the process. Obama also noted that we can't solve a problem that the folks in Iraq don't seem to want solved short of killing each other. This is a religious war, a civil war. We can't solve it unless they want it solved. I appreciated Obama's comments and I personally support a phased pull out of Iraq - 16 months sounds reasonable. Further, I am inclined to support Obama in his run for president. He strikes me as a straight shooter who doesn't change his tune based on the audience he is talking to. So, let's bring our troops home and let's elect Obama to do it.

[harrydo]

I think it is clear that there will be a 'pull out'...it is just a question of who controls the timing and process...I suggest Jim Bonewald be the one to decide.

[Howard Chapman]

Ok, Jim, I'll jump in on this. I think a rapid complete pullout would be foolish and a disaster. I would not want my son or daughter to be among the last 5,000 of the military to leave in such a scenario. I do think we could make a statement: "This is a mess. We can't solve it and we are pulling out." Then do it on whatever timetable would be the prudent. It's the stupid arogance of "Stay the course!" that I find so heinous.

I also think the current administration does not know how to use resources other than American bravado. The fact that the generals are making statements like, "We did not anticipate the Iraqi people's reaction. We thought we would be welcomed as liberators," shows me that key leaders did not go to the trouble of learning about the culture, and the mindset ot the people. We need to think differently, to be open to different worldviews, to listen what others who may know more have to say. If we did that we might be able to develop an exit policy that was more than just leaving and letting the chips fall where they may.

FWIW