Why We Are In Iraq, and Why We Must Remain There

The reasons for how we got there are irrelevant to anyone other than future historians. It's done; so live with it, live in the present and plan for the future.

There are four primary reasons why we are in Iraq, and why we need to remain there for years to come.

First, our forces provide a magnet for the killing fields we have set up - Jihadist aggression is aimed from all over the world at the US forces there; they are the lure. Now that we have been there for four and a half years, our troops know the lay of the land so that they have the battlefield advantage over jihadists, and therefore can more efficiently kill them.

Second, we provide a bulwark against Iranian and Jihadist hegemony in the region. Given Ahmadinejad's visions of both a new Persian Empire and the coming of the 12th Imam, if we withdraw from Iraq, Iran in concert with Syria and Shiite elements in Iraq, will extend a Jihadist hegemony from the border of Israel to Afghanistan. At that time, Mahmoud will make good his promise to wipe Israel off the map. That would not be difficult: once Iraq is compromised, it is a straight road for a million Iranian soldiers to travel on to the Israeli border. Seizing control of Mecca is his next step, and at that time, we will be in no position to protect Saudi Arabia. Jordan, Egypt, Turkey and the Moslem nations of the former USSR will capitulate and sign non-aggression pacts with Mahmoud out of self-preservation. All of this will follow if we abandon our keystone position in Iraq.

Third, Iraq provides us with a military base of operations. Maintaining a free and clear airspace over Iraq deters aggression by Syria and Iran against Israel and their pro-Western neighbors. We may be able to maintain a similar posture using WACS based in Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Diego Garcia, planes on aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf, and missiles on submarines, but a ground base in Iraq is much closer to the theater of operations, and more reliable.

Fourth, we present an alternative to people all over the Middle East, an alternative to Jihadism. Granted, some people who were formerly neutral are inspired by our presence to turn to Jihadism, but a similar number is inspired by our steadfastness there. Moslems do not respect cowards, those who flee the battlefield, and our withdrawal would be seen as surrender. All those who respect our troops there now will turn on a dime against us in the other countries where we maintain a small presence, and terrorist attacks will increase, not only against us, but against our Moslem allies (Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Egypt, Turkey, et al).
In short, mass chaos, the rise of a pan-Moslem Jihadist empire, and the destruction of Israel will ensue if we "get the troops out."

If there is anyone who does not see this happening upon our premature withdrawal, I would be pleased to hear his or her argument.