Karic becomes a Republican (for the day)

The Democrats are in control of both houses. Surely a good thing, right? Well. Perhaps not. They are putting pressure on Bush to bring the troops home. To cut and run from Iraq and spare pretty, white faced Christian Americans from the wrath of disgruntled Iraqis. Brilliant.

So as we all know the initial decision to invade might not go down as America’s finest hour but surely to quit now – to leave Iraq worse off than it was under Saddam (which it is), to not protect the fragile democracy that while forcibly thrust upon Iraq nonetheless is worth defending, and to hand Iran, a sinister Islamic influence, a great opportunity over its age long rival is surely suicidal in geo-political terms. If we were to quit now we would have simply done Iran’s work for them – they have longed to see Saddam removed from power – and to their delight they had the world’s finest army, led by a monkey of a born-again Christian fanatic, come in and do it for them. Brilliant.

The problem with American politics rears its ugly head once more with the new Democratic balance of power. The two parties are simply to extreme. A moderate force must come to the fore – America cannot keep jumping between the Christian crusading rhetoric of the South and the socially liberal and pansy footing of the North East. Sure - if they stay more Americans will die. That is a given. By deciding to stay Bush is in effect sending fellow citizens to their certain death. Yet now is not the time to become all-high and mighty about ethics, America sacrificed that right by starting the war in the first place. Iraqi people, not American citizens but fellow human beings, are going to keep dying in their droves if America stays or goes, yet there is more chance that firstly peace can come to Iraq with America’s help and secondly that it will not fall into Iran’s hands and become a flashpoint for future wars (and future deaths) between the West and East if America stays. By staying now America can reduce the long run death toll.

Europe needs to come to America’s aid on this one too, it was shameful at the recent NATO conference when the European nations sat on their hands when it came to sending more troops to Afghanistan. If America goes down – then so does liberal democracy – and Europe can’t survive for long without our bullyboy across the Atlantic doing the things for us that we find unpleasant to do ourselves. And I’m not talking just sending more soldiers and guns, that won’t help much. You need to send more aid workers, investment bankers and engineers. While its not easy to get an economy up and running in the midst of petty, God derived infighting - it is essential. I don’t care who you are or what religion you follow - becoming a martyr is a little less appealing if you have a business to look out for.

America has to stay. More Americans have to die. The job has to be done. I’m with Bush on this one. Stuff the Democrats. Don’t get the boys out. Get more in.