What will happen to the U.S. if we pull out of Iraq
After we admit --those of us to do-- that the war in Iraq has been a botch job from conception to the present, I think it is worth considering what would happen if we pull out.
There are many scenarios as to what will happen in Iraq, from civil war to domination by Iran. As an American, I am concerned about what will happen to America.
I believe our enemies will be completely convinced that America can be defeated, that we will retreat under duress and can be attacked with impunity. They will understand that while we can win any stand up battle, we don't know how to respond to an attack and run style of warfare. It will be understood that when a certain number of Americans are killed we will give up. Our enemies have been taught this lesson through the examples of the pullouts in Lebanon and Somalia. A pullout in Iraq will convince them even more firmly.
Have no doubt. We have real enemies. People and groups who hate us and wish us destroyed. There are many who think we deserve these enemies and the hatred that rains down upon us. Surely we bear responsibility for destuctive policies which have contributed to these attitudes. Still, many of our enemies have an agenda that transcends our foreign policy mistakes. Even though we are a wealthy nation often behaving like a bull in an international china shop, we still have the right to self-defense. We have the right to wish to remain free and alive.
If we pull out of Iraq, I believe we will be atacked on a variety of fronts as we have never been before. The outcome is one I am not ready to contemplate.
Melvyn Polatchek
4:34:45 PM 
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