Time To Get Out Of Dodge

I've struggled with the Iraq war for a long time.

In the run up I wasn't sure but came to the conclusion it was a bad idea. I figured Hussein probably had chemical weapons and may even have some bio weapons but I didn't think he had nukes.

As the occupation has drawn out I alternately considered how best the U.S. should handle the situation. Should we ramp up the number or troops and activity to crush the insurgency? Should we draw down our troop level so as not to inspire more violence? Should we allow the country to break up into Sunni, Shi'ite, and Kurdish regions? Should we pull our troops back to Kurdistan and/or Kuwait and let the Iraqis fight it out for themselves? Should we bring all our troops home and turn our back?

Every option has advantages. Every option has disadvantages.

Then this morning I learned that U.S. forces arrested an al Sadr aide on suspiscion that he ordered the killing and torture of dozens or hundreds of Sunnis. Sadr met with Iraqi President Maliki this morning and Maliki ordered the U.S. military to release the aide.

I'm sorry to say but Iraq is now a failed state and we can't save it. Its time to get the hell out of Dodge. I think it would probably be best to pull back to Kurdistan and Kuwait. That way we can keep the Iraq Civil War contained to Iraq. And when they're finally done killing each other, maybe we can go in and mop up.