Why I don't support the War in Iraq Part II...

There are those who say that Iraq is currently facing the “potential” of a civil war and if we pull out now, this “impending” civil war will erupt and devastate the country. Some say that, as Americans we have the “responsibility” to stay and keep the civil war from breaking out. But the way retired US Army General Barry McCaffrey sees it, the civil war in Iraq has already begun. General McCaffrey went to Iraq and wrote a report issued on March 26, 2007 detailing his analysis of the current situation there. He says: “Iraq is ripped by a low grade civil war which has worsened to catastrophic levels with as many as 3000 citizens murdered per month. The population is in despair” (pg. 3). I agree with General McCaffrey, and believe that the situation in Iraq has already declined into a civil war. American occupation has certainly proven to be no panacea for this civil war, so why stay when things just aren’t getting better and the result is an ever increasing cost of was and a rising body count of American soldiers?

This war has cost America too much money and too many lives. 2003 estimates of the monetary cost of war with Iraq were pegged at $50 - $60 billion. As of today, the cost has exceeded $422 billion. This war will leave our country’s economy in debt for decades to come. As of 2:33 a.m. today, the death toll of American soldiers in this war is 3352. The death toll for April 2007 was 104 U.S. soldiers. In 49 months of war, there were 6 months where the monthly U.S. death toll rose above 100. This marks last month as one of the worst for the U.S. military. As hard as it is to say this, thousands of Iraqis will die every month anyway, whether we are there or not. So why stay and risk the lives of our own when we can't even save the lives we're fighting for?

It is a challenge to be diplomatic with regards to the current situation in Iraq while also keeping the best interest of our own country in mind but, I believe we have reached the unfortunate point where we need to step back and leave Iraq up to its own devices. My viewpoints on this matter may derive from the fact that my (admittedly selfish) concerns lie with the welfare of America and its citizens and soldiers. Also I do not believe that our safety on our home soil will be compromised if we leave Iraq so, to me pulling out seems to be the best option for Americans at this point.