[Grovenet] The Iraqi View

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Since whether we and the Brits remain a physical presence in Iraq is quickly
shifting from a military/political decision to a public decision, perhaps
this poll was inevitable. 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/10_09_07_iraqpollaug2007_full.pdf

Or 

http://tinyurl.com/yqmr7r

As you might guess, it says that in broad terms the Iraqi people interviewed
say they are worse off now than before we invaded. 

I'm no fan of this "war" but I bet a similar poll asked in Germany in 1945
would have yielded the same results. 

Even so, we didn't leave Germany or Japan in 1945. We stayed on for decades,
helping build a stable, successful economy in each country, spending huge
amounts of money both in material and personnel. Does whether one thinks our
invasion of Iraq was justified determine the nature of our obligation to the
people of Iraq? Do we want to see a more prosperous, more stable and safer
society emerge from the bloodbath? 

Or has the United States changed? Do we no longer accept responsibility for
our actions? 

For nearly eight years I've watched the Republican party take the blame for
the mess in Iraq. A few years ago the Democratic party gained control of
Congress. Now it looks like the Democrats will gain control of both Congress
and the White House next year. 

I wonder what they will do? 

Will they say "too bad, so sad" and walk away from Iraq? 

Is that the sort of thing the United States of the 21st Century does? 

Ron D'Eau Claire