by Corey Widdison

Created on: May 15, 2009   Last Updated: May 16, 2009

The war in Iraq has, without question, been a long and taxing war on both countries. The initial attack on Iraq did not last long. We had complete control of that country in hardly any time at all. It was what happened after that that was the problem. Depending on what side of the aisle you were on, you either said we were occupying their country or that we were rebuilding their country. What side were you finding yourself on?

No matter what you thought, the fact is that we have been in Iraq for a very long time. From recent reports, it is looking like victory is at last in sight. But what does victory really mean for us, as well as the people of Iraq? In my opinion we need to accomplish a few things before we go announcing victory.

First, we need to get the Iraq people ready to take over our bases that we have established in Iraq. We have troops posted all over that country in different styles of bases that have many different purposes. Training the Iraq police and military is vital to them being able to take control once again of their country. The people of Iraq need their government to be able to protect them from violence before the majority of our forces leave the country. Our soldiers have been working side by side with the Iraq soldiers for a long time now, and if we can get them in line with us, we would have no need to stick around.

Also, when we do leave Iraq that does not mean that we take every soldier we have in the country out of it and say bye. We need to leave some soldiers there and set up some American bases that will be there for many years to come. This is nothing new. We have soldiers stationed at many places where we have once had wars, such as Vietnam and Germany. Keeping a good base there with stationed soldiers does not mean that we are occupying the country. Keeping a presence in Iraq helps to both keep order in Iraq and shows the Iraqi people that we intend to continue to be a strong ally for them.

Being a strong ally for Iraq is truly the key to victory here. We are fighting a battle against global terrorism. Iraq is not the only country that has many terrorist organizations in it. Not by a long shot. But it is a very good place to begin the fight. Right now we have our allies, the Jews, out there on an island all alone. With another strong ally in Iraq, we can help our allies protect themselves in a dangerous part of the world. Iran has been very vocal about their hatred for their Jewish neighbors. Being in Iraq we are in good position to stay on top of that situation.

In the fight with terrorism we need as many allies as we can get. I don't think that Iraq will be the last country we travel to in order to battle against this great threat. Just like a war against drugs or child prostitution, we are in a seemingly never-ending battle. The places may change but the ideals that we fight stay the same. Keeping up the fight, not giving in, and staying the coarse are the ways to beat this thing back. If we are sucked into another country, then we should do the same to them as we did in Iraq. And that means make them an ally against this war on terror.

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