A nation that's defended Europe from aggression in the 60 years since World War II is asking why Iraq can't defend itself. The fact is, Iraqis risk their lives for their country every day.
Clearly the days when Democrats warned of a long twilight struggle and pledged to pay any price and bear any burden to ensure the success and survival of liberty are over, judging from remarks by Carl Levin, incoming chairman of the Senate Armed Service Committee.
"We cannot save the Iraqis from themselves," Levin opined Wednesday at a Capitol Hill press conference. "The only way for Iraqi leaders to squarely face that reality is for President Bush to tell them that the United States will begin a phased redeployment of our forces within four to six months."
"We cannot be their security blanket," he added. But why not, if it's in our best long-term security interest?
Yes, we should demand more of the Iraqis. But those who ask whether we can or should stop Iraqis from killing themselves forget that we're in this to stop others from killing us and using Iraq as a base camp from which to do it.
We've been Europe's security blanket for six decades. We are Japan's security blanket. We are South Korea's. It's been said that were it not for us, the French would be speaking German and the Germans would be speaking Russian. In 1938, the West decided it couldn't be Czechoslovakia's security blanket and sold out that country in Munich, Germany. The rest, as they say, is history.
Read the rest. Via Cold Fury and Instapundit, who says he'd like to see a phased redeployment from Europe. And how.
Posted by Sarah at November 18, 2006 09:23 AM | TrackBackI thought conservatives believed in laissez-faire economics and self-determination. The government in Iraq is too big right now, too imposing and too costly. All these social benefits we're trying to give Iraqis, like education and life, are going to create a huge debt and raise taxes. I say cut back on government spending in Iraq, especially within the security budget, and let the Iraqis be free to govern themselves.
Posted by: Will at November 18, 2006 04:51 PM