Reply #9: Is a Kurdistan Compromise possible? [View All]

[beachmom]

Basically, we Dems opposed to this war mostly support the Murtha and Kerry/Feingold approach of our troops withdrawing to an over the horizon position, thereby getting out of the civil war, while still being able to fight al Qaeda with special forces and air support, when necessary. Well, I have heard a lot about permanent bases in Kurdistan, which is relatively peaceful. Of course, in a perfect world I am opposed to permanent bases in Iraq, but since democracy, like the good senator from Massachusetts most eloquently said, is about making compromises, what if we withdraw our troops to an over the horizon capacity in Kurdistan? Then we're not "withdrawing from Iraq" when in reality we are. We do all the U.N. stuff and diplomacy and get the whole world involved to try to get the different parties together but get our troops OUT of the war theater where they're only getting killed and maimed while being unable to secure the capital among other cities.

We are failing in Iraq, and it is bleeding us dry. Although we are a superpower, this conflict is weakening us to fight the real war on terror, crippling our military, and destroying our finances. I do feel awful for the Iraqi people, and one would be naive not to acknowledge that there have been circumstances where our troops have indeed helped certain neighborhoods or towns, at least on a temporary basis. Our withdrawal will lead to even more violence and chaos in the short term. But it also may lead to the Iraqi people realizing that this is THEIR country and do they really want to keep killing each other for the next 30 years, or do they want to start thinking of solutions to the sectarian problems.

Kurdistan is a world away from Baghdad, and if that's the magic word that will make this executive branch that we're stuck with reconsider their insane "stay the course" policy, and thereby save lives and treasure, I am at the point that I will be willing to listen. Perhaps if we win back Congress, then this compromise can be offered.