Issues
IRAQ
"We went blundering in and assumed best case. We can't come blundering out."
-Sam Nunn, a Democrat
Former Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee
-Sam Nunn, a Democrat
Former Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee
Nathan Bech wants the war in Iraq to end and our brave servicemen to have the opportunity to return home. He knows that that must be done wisely and with honor. Nathan believes first and foremost that Iraq with the support of the United States and others can achieve a stable and secure democracy that will allow her to be an independent ally. While he respects those who question the judgment in the decision to invade Iraq, he knows that we must look to the future in Iraq and that we must finish what we started.
Our national security is at stake
If we leave too quickly, Iraq will dissolve into civil war and become a haven for terrorists who will threaten us. An unstable Iraq is vulnerable to extremist influence from Al Qaeda, Iran and Syria. One need look no farther than Somalia to see the effects of an American withdrawal without a stable government left behind.
Our vital interests are at stake
We cannot afford instability and chaos in a region as vital to United States interests as the Middle East. . We need to become energy independent, but that will take time. Until then, unfortunately, the United States economy is dependant on Middle East oil production. We also have allies in the Middle East who would suffer if the situation in Iraq devolved, putting a strain on already challenging relationships.
Our international reputation is at stake
Our friends and allies in the world will know that we are not reliable if we cut and run when the going gets tough. Just as after World War II we rebuilt Europe and Japan, it is in our interests to restore stability to Iraq. Worse than discouraging our allies, an untimely withdrawal would bolster our enemies. Lybia has shown us that the world watches and reacts to the actions of the United States. A sudden withdrawal from Iraq will embolden the hostile totalitarian regimes of Iran and North Korea. Furthermore, Iran has a young population which is strongly influenced by western culture and democracy. If Iran acts on its threats of aggression, we may one day need those young people as allies, but we will have little hope of winning them if they see we abandon our friends.
Our values are at stake
If we "blunder out" of Iraq, thousands and even millions of Iraqis will likely die in the ensuing chaos and genocide. It is one thing to not get involved in other people's civil wars. It is quite another to destroy a native government and then leave, thus making us directly responsible for the creation of a civil war. Nathan believes that we have a moral responsibility to defend Iraqi civilians from genocide. We acted too little and late in other regions where human lives were treated cheaply, we have the opportunity to prevent a bad situation from getting much worse.
Achieving Victory
Nathan Bech believes we must engage the Iraqi people, Iraq's neighbors, and our friends and allies around the world to work together to bring stability to this new democracy. Keeping American leadership on the ground while we do this will give us the security to accomplish the mission. We must continue to train up the new Iraqi army and security forces, and have them continue to work closely with coalition forces until they are ready to operate independently. As long as coalition forces continue to treat the Iraqi people with dignity and respect, we will continue to see what we have seen in Anbar province: the Iraqi people will get sick of the extremists among them and side instead with the cause of liberty. In this manner, over time, we can, will and must prevail against the forces of violence and hatred that would destroy Iraq and set their sights next on the United States.