Should the US pull out its troops regardless of whether Iraq is ready to defend its people?

Yes

5 of 214

by EM Schmidt

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Picture this if you will, it's 2008, we are in a major city located somewhere in the United States of America. There is war going on between multiple inner city gangs. The violence escalates, it is frequent, there is no end in sight. Drive by shootings, drugs and crime are every day occurrences. This is a way of life for these gang members. It is all they know. They have been conditioned to this life since they were young. They do not want to change. Nor, do they know how to change. It will take uncountable years, and generations to rid our cities of gangs. Realistically, they will probably never reach extinction.

Do most of us agree with this type of behavior? Doubtful. Do we respect this type of behavior, probably not. Do we accept it? Reluctantly, we do. Why do we accept it? Because we are realists. Despite the danger and devastation among gangs, unfortunately, we realize that although this is not everyones way of life, it is the way of life for some.

Now picture this, to try and resolve this situation police are sent into the gang infested cities to quell the on-going violence and call for civil rest. The day's violence is calmed and the dust settles. Have we resolved this problem? Temporarily, yes. Indefinitely, no.

Now, look ahead. It's 2008, we are in Iraq. We are in the sixth year of war there. We are in a land where beliefs differ greatly from ours. Their way of life is much like our inner city gangs. Fighting and civil unrest is what they know, have known, and will know for years to come regardless of the United States involvement. To think that we can change their beliefs and behavior is unrealistic. After all, this is life as they know it.

Looking at this situation with the United States best interest at heart, American soldiers, their families, and US citizens are paying an extremely high price for our governments attempt to alter these peoples lives and make Iraq a better country and a more civilized place to live. And, although one might argue that pulling out of Iraq at this point may jeopardize the national security of the US in the future, that is a chance we take with multiple Countries that consider us a threat.

There has to be an end to this war. This war cannot continue for the generations that it will take to annihilate this behavior and the beliefs that exist in this far away land.

What are the current costs of this war you may ask? To date, there have been an estimated 3,974 US soldiers killed in Iraq, with another 29,314 injured. These figures do not include deaths or injuries to civilians, or Iraqi Security forces there. This war is currently costing the US a near $12 billion dollars a month to fight. By the end of it, trillions of dollars will have been spent. And, what about future disability payments and medical costs to soldiers returning from there?

Can our Country handle these expenses? To answer that question, look at the current shape of our economy. It is unstable. Experts predict if we aren't already, we will soon enter a recession. The average person is having a difficult time paying their bills. With unbelievable mortgage foreclosures, unsightly medical costs, rising fuel prices, and steep taxes is seems unlikely that Americans will be able to stay afloat. How will the government pay for this war? How will we pay for this war?

Sadly enough, Iraq may never be able to sustain itself as the United States government would like to see them do. And, as devastating and unpleasant as it may seem to abandon a Country that we entered with expectations to improve, we need be realistic. The US must keep it's head above water. We should not go down with a sinking ship. The US needs to pull our troops from Iraq and concentrate on the issues currently plaguing our economy and homeland. We must focus on making changes that are realistic.

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