We are still in Korea, which still needs us.
We are still in Japan, which still needs us.
We are still in Europe, which still needs us.
Heck, we are still in Kosovo, which still needs us:
Today, some 5,500 troops from the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR), provided by 30 countries (22 NATO and 8 non-NATO), are still deployed in Kosovo to help maintain a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all citizens, irrespective of their ethnic origin.
Despite Republican complaints about that war, President Bush didn't walk away from our nation's responsibilities there just because it was fought under President Clinton. In 1999.
Our presence has declined over time, but we didn't just pack our bags, wish them good luck and explain that there future is up to them, and count that as a victory. We still have over 700 personnel there.
But in Iraq, where we fought for over 8 years and suffered over 4,500 hundred dead, our president just walked away. We can say we are still with them, but the lack of our troops on the ground in contrast to other areas says otherwise to those who want to undo our achievement.
If Iraq fails, President Obama will deserve a large heap of blame for failing to defend what our troops achieved at the price of their blood. All the troops ask him to do is defy his pro-defeat base of supporters to continue occupations that don't involve trashing parks in our cities. Our troops paid the price they were asked to pay to win the war. President Obama won't pay the price he is asked to pay to win the peace.
President Obama can dress up as strategy his aversion to US troops on the ground--anywhere--in defense of our interests, but the need for ground forces isn't going away--just our leaders' belief in the need for ground forces.
History says we need ground troops. Politics says we don't. Guess what won?
