I am continually amazed at the hubris of the American public. Those who invoke the "fight them there" plan of action top the list of chuzpah champs. Nevermind that the NIE says "fighting them there" only creates more terrorists. Nevermind that Iraq was not the right "there" since its repressive dictator wasn't about to let some religious fanatics take over. Nevermind. All that reasoning comes from our side of the ocean.
Put yourself in the place of an Iraqi. 71% want us to leave within the next year. 37% within six months. Why? Because the US is "fighting them there" and "there" happens to be Iraqi's cities, towns, and villages. Even with our best intentions, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have died; they look out their windows to a war zone.
We are not as concerned about what is happening to the "liberated" people of Iraq as we are securing the false safety provided us by the "fighting them there" excuse. We are acting not only in a stupid way; we are acting in a selfish way. The war is ripping up their country and our calling it collateral damage and maintaining we didn't mean to hurt them does nothing to mitigate their pain and suffering. It is no wonder that the world community looks down on us.
Why can't we put ourselves in their place? I grew up in a Christian tradition that taught "Love your neighbor as yourself" is basic theology. Basic. What is in the best interests of the people of Iraq? Our leaving.
I could have accepted staying in Iraq since we owed it to them to leave a stable government in place of the one we decapitated. But that boat has sailed. The country is now in civil war. I believe Jack Murtha, 71% of Iraqis, and common sense that says we are doing more harm then good by remaining in Iraq's civil war. They have a better chance of picking up the pieces without us. If I lived in an occupied nation, I'd want the occupying armies gone too.
The people who wanted us to rush into Iraq, now want us to stay. They were wrong then. They are wrong now.