Dr. Ivan Eland of the Independent Institute on Cut Losses: Leave Iraq
The brazen missile attack on the Rashid hotel in Baghdad and a recent spate of suicide bombings illustrate that anti-American violence is increasing in frequency, sophistication and deadliness. Moreover, a recent poll by an Iraq research center showed fewer than 15% of Iraqis see U.S. forces as liberators, down from a tepid 43% six months ago. That’s an ominous sign that popular discontent over a prolonged occupation could cause anti-U.S. attacks to snowball.
The only way to let the air out of the resistance is to quickly turn Iraq back to the Iraqis and withdraw U.S. forces. The violence arises primarily as a reaction to the invasion and occupation by a foreign superpower.
I'm with Dr. Eland on this one. Eland, by the way, is Senior Fellow and Director of the Center on Peace & Liberty at the Independent Institute. Just thought I'd point that out for the pro-war crowd who like to scream "traitor" at anyone who disagrees with their cowardly armchair bloodlusting.
I did not think we should have gone into Iraq. But, the fact is we are there and we have made the situation more dangerous and hospitable for terrorists now then when Saddam was in charge. I fear if America left now it would become a hotbed of terrorist activity.