(UK)Tony Blair cuts back Troops

Americans continue to discuss and debate the merits of sending additional troops to Iraq in order to finish something that we started. On one level, we all would like to escape the shadow of Vietnam, it was a terrible “defeat” if-you-will, and nothing good came out of the war beyond the peace movement and Hippies! (depending on your politics, this may have been worse than defeat!).

The U.K., not to be confused with the U.S. these days… has seen enormous pressure on Blair to take some kind of action and make an exit from Iraq.  In fact, just about everyone involved in Iraq has attempted to if not already succeeded in removing their armed forces from the ticking time bomb we have in the middle east. The U.S. may have a more difficult time doing this because there is more at stake now than American soldier’s lives. We’ve sent Iraq into turmoil (for the better good, of course) and we’ve no idea how to fix what we broke. Sending more troops means sending more Americans to possibly die for Iraqi freedom.

I say we wave goodbye to the Iraqi people.  Call me greedy, call me a genius, call me any other word that starts with a G… but really, just get out! As long as we are in Iraq, we must continue to support and help our troops survive, but by that same token there are more battles to be fought and better use of our resources! Here are a few upcoming political hot spots: Iran nuclear crisis, North Korea dilemma, and potential conflicts with Russia and China in the future over political influence and historical differences? (Damn commies, you never know!) The point is — it’s time to cut our losses, and there were many — and redirect our troops into areas that have political and global implications. I am not a hater of the Iraqi people, but given the anger, volatility, and hatred that I’ve seen coming from Iraqis– I’d rather our troops die for people who need, want, and appreciate our American men and women in the armed forces.

Anyway, if Iraq becomes even more volatile than we’ve seen to date and our troops are elsewhere.. then the United Nations might choose to intervene and it would become more of a global effort than an American burden.  It would save us troops, lives and face on the national stage… out, out, out!

Fred Soto is an Attorney and Entrepreneur from the Silicon Valley.
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