This weekend's news indicates that the Iraqi government is poised to grant a three year extension on United States troops being deployed within their country.  The United Nations mandate for such deployment expires at the end of this year.  This new agreement would give permission for our troops to stay through the year 2011.  President Bush is in full agreement of this plan.

 

However, this new agreement is not binding on the incoming Obama Administration.  Barak Obama campaigned on the promise of our troops being withdrawn from Iraq 16 months after his taking office.

 

As a student of history, I view the announcement of a 16 month troop withdrawl as a tactical error from a military standpoint.  It gives the enemy the advantage of holding back, regrouping, re-supplying, and simply waiting for the deadline and removal of our troops.  We saw this occur in our departure out of Vietnam.  A level of chaos was created that put our troops at greater risk and resulted in the defeat of South Vietnam.  This chaos and defeat cost countless numbers of innocent lives to be lost.

 

To repeat such history is, to me, unconscionable.

 

Our brave men and women in uniform have accomplished everything asked of them during their deployment in Iraq.  They defeated the Iraqi army, entered Bagdad, removed Saddam Hussein and his sons from power.  They have rebuilt schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, and oil refineries.  No conflict is perfect and mistake free; but, our troops have conducted themselves with honor, bravery, and excellence.

 

The one final and most important task to finish is our training of Iraqi forces to the level at which they can on their own defend their homeland,  protect a new, democratically elected government, and keep it's citizens safe.  This task is also in progress as we see provinces and cities being turned over to Iraqi control on a regular basis.  The end of this final stage of our mission will come about only if our troops and military leaders are given the time they need.  To withdraw prior to its accomplishment would make our purpose of being there meaningless. 

 

This final phase may not take three years, or even 16 months.  But, it is my hope that President Obama will give our brave soldiers the time they need to finish the task so that they can come home in victory and pride; not chaos and shame.

 

Our men and women in uniform deserve it and the Iraqi people deserve it.