A case for staying in Iraq
Today I heard a congresswoman from California refer to the “ending American occupation of Iraq.” I take issue with that terminology. An to occupy a country is to “take control of by military conquest or settlement”. To liberate is to “set (someone) free from a situation, esp. imprisonment or slavery, in which their liberty is severely restricted.” (Oxford Dictionary)
In Iraq, America (and its allies) have toppled a dictator, stood up a democratic government, held elections and started the process of helping an autonomous Iraqi government secure its country. These things are historical facts. We are liberators, not occupiers.
The important point here is that the liberation has begun in Iraq but is not yet finished. A liberation should be lasting. If America left Iraq today I think there are few who would argue that the democratic government that has been set up would survive. It is likely that the situation in Iraq would be worse that it was when it was ruled by Saddam. There would definitely be an increase in terrorist activity in Iraq and possibly an increase elsewhere in the world as a result.
Were we to leave Iraq today we would be ending the liberation, not the occupation. The question is now, “Should we end the liberation of Iraq?”
I stated what would happen were we to leave Iraq today. What if we stay? It is likely that more American troops will die. Also, the war is expensive. On the other hand, the outcome could potentially be very positive–it could end in a free Iraq which would be good for America, Iraq and the world. Does it make sense to stop the liberation now and allow a known evil–the decline of Iraq, when there is potentially a very great good–the completed liberation of Iraq?
Socrates said in his trial “I will never fear or avoid a possible good rather than a certain evil.” I agree. Regardless of why we are in Iraq, we are there, and there as liberators. To leave now would be leaving in fear and avoidance of a possible good to bring on a certain evil. We should finish the job.
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