April 18, 2007
Bad ideas
Philip Klein has a great piece on the price of withdrawal from Iraq, with a strong comparison to the withdrawal from Lebanon in 1984:
As the nation debates whether to withdraw from Iraq, the Lebanon experience provides a cautionary tale. In 1984, there was a strong case to be made for pulling out of Lebanon, but there were also disastrous long-term consequences stemming from that decision. Should the U.S. leave Iraq, it would not only ensure terrorists a safe haven, but reinforce the view that America, for all of its military might, does not have the stomach to fight terrorism. Let us have an honest and open debate about the challenges we face in Iraq, but let us be under no illusions as to the consequences of leaving.Posted by Karol at April 18, 2007 02:54 PM | TrackBack
Technorati Tags: Iraq+Withdrawal
There is also a lesson for us in Vietnam.
After a peace treaty stopping North Vietnamese aggression was signed, our troops were withdrawn. Shortly thereafter the Democrats in Congress cut all aid to the South Vietnamese. Immediately after the vote, North Vietnam reinvaded Cambodia and South Vietnam. North Vietnam and its allies executed 1,500,000 people in those countries.
Posted by: Jake at April 18, 2007 09:35 PMI've reached the conclusion that much of the Democratic leadership would rather defeat Republicans than defeat the Communists or Islamic Jihad.
I realize such a statement may elicit angry protests, but I base it on having observed the box scores.
Posted by: BadBoyInASuit at April 18, 2007 11:29 PMI agree with this sentiment entirely, but Jake's post is historically inaccurate. The Khmer Rouge slaughtered well over a million people--some say thrice that--not the North Vietnamese, for whom I have no kind feelings. The NVA invaded Cambodia/Kampuchia in 1979 to stop the genocide there. I am no defender of the Vietnamese communists, but you might want to be more cautious when tossing history around, Jake.
Posted by: at April 19, 2007 11:49 AM
