"we can't lose sight of the long term goal"
I agree, but I'd say: GOALS.
We have *multiple* goals.
Democracy throughout the world would be much in our interest... so also is the rule of law, free & fair markets, peace on Earth, scientific advancement, etc., etc., etc.
But --- just possibly --- one of the most effective ways to advance some of those goals (as well as getting our asses out of the gunsights) might be to remove ourselves from the middle of the incipient civil war in Iraq... and let our enemies (radical Theocratic Shia in Iran, and radical Theocratic Sunni in Saudi Arabia/Syria/Jordan/Gulf States, etc.) exhaust themselves FIGHTING EACH OTHER for a change.
After all, this strategy was good enough for the hard-headed strategists in the Reagan Administration, who believed that a war between Iran and Saddam would be VERY MUCH in America's interests.
A war would probably discredit the Theocrats on BOTH sides, would likely result in the partition of Iraq into more stable zones... and might actually hasten the centuries-overdue Reformation in Islam, also much in the interests of most of the world. |
