Should the United States be Pulling its Troops out of Iraq?

The answer to this question will have enormous ramifications not only for American politics, stability in Iraq and the Middle East, but also global affairs for decades to come. I believe that Barack Obama’s decision to remove troops from Iraq could prove to be one of the worst decisions ever made by any United States president. President Obama has stated that the Iraqi people are capable of protecting themselves and also creating a state which possesses both safety and stability. I am not so sure.

If this is indeed true, then I agree with the president that it is good decision for the United States soldiers to be removed from the country. What I fear however, is that the Iraqi people are not yet capable of defending themselves unaided. As a result, the removal of US troops from the country will result in a power vacuum, which will propel Iraq into a downward spiral of nationwide disarray.

Regardless of whether America should have intervened in Iraq or not, it would be ridiculous not to observe the long and short term effects that would incur if the US left Iraq before the country was able to stand on its own two feet.

Not only would the long term stability of Iraq be in jeopardy, but there would also be enormous backlash across the world against America for quitting before the job was finished, not to mention the scorn which would arise in response to America’s supposed ability to win a war but not to keep the peace.

Since so much of the world carries such strong distaste for America, removing troops from Iraq would be considered a failure, and would further blemish the United States in the eyes of the global community for years to come. It would prove what many say about America, that it is a paper tiger lacking the resolve and determination to stick through conflict to accomplish its goals. It would also encourage America’s enemies to continue their fight with a country that will run as soon as it is bloodied.

I’m sure that everybody would like for the United States troops to be able to withdraw from the country of Iraq, but I think it is just too idealistic to believe that the country is ready for it. I believe that the country needs more time to steady itself, and then the US should remove its soldiers, but not until Iraq is ready.