[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by Downthestretch55

Sham,
Of the three options presented, the one that makes the most sense is tainted with hypotheticals. 3 "may"s and one possibly.
Perhaps the author needs a consult with Madame Zelda and her magical cards.

"If the U.S. withdraws without achieving even this minimalist definition of "success", Iraq will deteriorate into ever worsening violence and may splinter into its component parts. Turkey may then invade Kurdistan, whose possible independence it views as a threat to its own territorial integrity. Iran will become not only a primary player in Iraq, but the primary one, possibly even annexing Shiite areas outright. The Saudis, already threatened by rising Shiite influence in the region, petrified by a possible Iranian presence right on their border, may similarly choose to preempt this by grabbing parts of Iraq. Jordan, with an Iranian controlled Iraq on its border, might collapse. For Israel, the consequences will be severe."

Oh, I wonder why the author is looking out for the interests of Israel?
hmmm.....

I've stayed out of this thread but I read this and I start looking for my time machine...did I just travel back to the 60's? This is the same crap Henry K and the boys used to justify Nam...in fact it was the mindset that led to Korea...use to call it the domino theory...names no doubt changed to protect the guilty but still...the more things change, the more they stay the same! I'm not an isolationist but I'd rather see our troops in the Sudan stopping genocide than trying to create something in Iraq that goes against everything the folks there believe!