Sox: I don't think anybody posting here is pro-war. I know I am certainly not. I do agree we must stay in IRAQ until they can get a reasonable government up and running. It doesn't have to be perfect but should have all Iraqi citizens best interests at heart.
Long range thinking is at what I perceive to be the over-riding problem between our differing views.
I think, and perhaps you can also agree, IRAN is the major danger to the world and happens to be in the middle East. Without engaging in a military invasion, various options should be looked at. Imposing sanctions to where the Iranian citizenry over-throw the government seems to be the current thinking. It isn’t working yet, but the gas lines are getting longer. Possibly, more sanctions might get the situation to a tipping point, remains to be seen.
The UN seems ineffectual and with China and Russia votes countering the rest of the Security Council, that avenue seems closed.
We could abandon our treaties with various countries within range of Iranian missiles
and hope we are left alone. Not a good option, imo.
As we are looking longer range in this exercise, a successful Iraq and Afghanistan with a prosperous economy and citizenry, will present social problems to the radical revolutionary guard of Iran and the ruling mullahs. Assuming Lebanon is settled down and a 2 state solution to the Palestinian/Israeli situation is accomplished, a look at the middle east overall presents a situation where the appeal of radical Islam will be greatly reduced.
Looking at that part of the world starting from the east and going west presents the following observation. Pakistan, tribal area probably same as always. Afghanistan, prosperous and on Iran’s eastern border. Iran is politically vulnerable. Iraq is politically stable and prosperous. Syria, citizens see advantages that Iraqi citizens now have, they want, and politically unstable. Lebanon should be stabilized and Hezbollah a legitimate political force or will have been defeated as Syria wouldn’t be able to provide support.
In passing, Iraq could well become what Lebanon was before their civil war. Lebanon was known as the Paris of the Middle East. A financial hub, a vacation paradise, and business center for Middle East affairs. Iraq, now, has an operating stock market. It has the potential of a world class tourist center with the Tigris and Euphrates river fronts. That is largely Sunni area and will help equal out the resources between the three major
Tribes.
Anyway, food for thought from the long range, very possible perpestive.
SharonB
