We paid a higher price than I would like to win in Iraq (although the price we could have paid had we left Saddam or his spawn in charge is unknowable). Let's not throw that noble sacrifice away by letting enemies--either Iran's mullahs or Sunni jihadis--win in Iraq.
Keep 2,500 U.S. troops in Iraq:
Washington seeks a stable Iraq that is sovereign, not a satellite of Iran; capable, not a breeding ground for terrorist resurgence; and independent, not beholden to China or Russia. That doesn’t require a democratic utopia—only a stable, resilient state that can manage its own affairs.
Bush won the Iraq War by 2008. Obama and Biden boasted of the victory even as America walked away--yet Obama re-engaged after the rise of ISIL across eastern Syria and western and northwestern Iraq to reverse the defeat. Trump intensified America's role to win that Iraq War 2.0 against ISIL jihadis. Biden stayed the course--while edging toward the exits (losing two wars in one term is frowned upon).
And now we must continue the fight as supporting players (back to the article):
Competing effectively in Iraq does not require massive reinvestment. A modest U.S. presence—focused on advising Iraqi forces, enabling counterterrorism operations, and providing targeted economic and diplomatic engagement—can go a long way. This light-touch approach won’t dominate headlines or stretch budgets, but it can preserve hard-won gains and prevent the kind of collapse that would demand a far costlier re-entry.
It is sad and frustrating that so many Americans don't appreciate our victory.
We can't wage Phase IX of the Iraq War to defeat Iran from over the horizon.
NOTE: TDR Winter War of 2022 coverage continues here.
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NOTE: Photo from the article.
