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Originally Posted by The Reaper
It would be better for us internationally to kill everyone in Iraq as a statement of power than to cut and run declaring the war lost. If we pull out before killing every bad guy there (and more arrive or are created every day), then we are going to see the NKs, Iranians, and their ilk developing nukes full speed ahead in clear violation of any treaty we might negotiate with them. Because we will be seen as weak, and the only way we can shake that is to show some power on a grand scale, like nuking the shit out of the Iranian or NK nuclear sites. They will attack us overseas and here at home, as our demoralized and defeated military hides in shame.
TR
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Regardless of how you feel about the religion, it seems to me that a great deal of insight into our current situation in the Middle East can be found in the Old Testament (even from a strictly historical standpoint). You had a small tribe (Israel) that somehow defied the odds and survived amidst the great powers of the world. The main reason that Israel survived was because of their battle tactics-kill the enemy in a violent and thorough way (i.e. wipe them out). The book of Joshua details this method of warfare and its effects. Moreover, what problems they during these times and afterwards came because as ruthless as they were, they were
not thorough enough. That is, according to the OT, the Israelites were not as harsh on the enemy as they should have been (as God commanded) and their lack of follow through ended up being the cause of future trouble and wars.
Years ago, before our current wars, I asked my dad why God would command this and teach this lesson. My father, who has a Doctor of Theology, explained that it is not to teach us to go and kill and be blindly violent, but rather to teach us that evil, in any form, cannot be negotiated with.
I believe that you all (TS, TR especially) have hit the nail on the head with regards to the consequences of us leaving and the lack of resolve of our nation. I just wanted to give a little bit of ancient support for your modern argument.
"What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun." Ecclesiastes 1:9
Joe