When is it time to leave?
I have a question about exit strategies. I know, I know, I am not supposed to opine or editorialize about national or international issues.
But this one has just bugged me since the political wags started mumbling about it after the U.S. routed the Taliban from Afghanistan. And it has left me more perplexed since the start of the Iraq war when the mumbling grew more distinct and we started hearing it more often. Comments about the U.S. exit strategy from Iraq have gotten tossed into a mix of words that have included "Vietnam, quagmire, crisis, predicament, and dilemma."
There seems to be lots of noise about getting out of Iraq right this very instant! Not only our own politicians, but other whole countries are focused on when we will leave. They all want it sooner rather than later. The European countries are especially distressed that we might be planning to be there much longer than they would like for us to be.
Well, I would like to know what our exit strategy is for our departure from Germany.
Who's plan was it that we would still be there after the millennium, for Pete's sake? Talk about a quagmire! I wonder if anyone — or any government department — has ever done a study of what the American taxpayers have spent in that little corner of the globe? Anyone want to wager that it is less than $87 billion? My guess is it is more like a gazillion bajillion.
We eliminated Germany's despot and prevented his development of THE weapon of mass destruction. We opened the Nazi's mass graves, tried, and punished their military criminals. We introduced democracy and free elections. We rebuilt their infrastructure, gave them back their economic future, protected them from an encroaching menace, and eventually tore down the wall that divided their people. And I bet we didn't do it "on the cheap."
So are we done yet? We have been there since before I was born
I say we leave tomorrow.
Susan Marshal
