The justification for the Iraq War lies in the consequences of surrender.
If we were to withdraw our troops as both Democratic nominees and several students who protested on March 19 want, one of three things will happen: The Iraq Democracy that our troops have bled for will survive, and the Iraqis will preserve their freedoms against the insurgency on their own; an untenable Civil War will break out, or a theocracy will reign in Iraq with direct aid from Iran.
While the first result seems utterly implausible, the second two consequences are very real - actually, both could transpire following America's capitulation to terror. This disastrous ending would be extremely damaging to America's security at home because it would deteriorate the United States' authority worldwide and it would embolden the terrorists to spread their supposed righteous cause to additional recruits. Nothing is more appealing to a potential conscript than a victory over the most powerful military in the world.
Moreover, extraction of U.S. forces would leave our enemies without someone to hold them responsible for their actions. If we were to remove the accountability that our boots demand, the religious radicals who have flocked to Iraq to fight against U.S. presence would be left to organize and plan more attacks similar to Sept. 11. The fact that there has not been another major attack on U.S. soil is validation for the country's effort in Iraq because it proves that as long as we have a presence in the Middle East, the terrorists are forced to fight our troops on Middle Eastern soil, not in our airspace or communities.
Further, American presence in the Middle East is necessary if the United States wants to live with the freedoms we now benefit from. Imagine a United States where there are bus bombs, school bombs, and bombs in local markets - that is, the United States that will exist if terrorists are permitted to systematize themselves. While it may seem preposterous just sitting and reading this, understand it is reality in the Middle East and even in Europe.
People in opposition to the U.S.'s presence in Iraq say that Saddam Hussein had nothing to do with the attacks on 9/11, so we should not have invaded Iraq. Well, Adolf Hitler had nothing to do with the attack at Pearl Harbor, either, yet we sent troops to Europe to help our allies fight against the tyranny of Nazi Germany. Many Americans fail to recognize that Saddam Hussein was a part of the same movement as Osama bin Laden - a movement whose focus is to topple the West. Iraq is merely the current theater for the War on Terrorism, and if we leave Iraq before finishing the job, the problem will just follow us home.
Unfortunately, Americans have become so accustomed to a life of instant gratification that we have grown fatigued of our country's efforts in the Middle East. This is just what our enemies want. They believe by protracting the war in Iraq they can outlast the American public's (not our soldiers') resolve to fight and take advantage of the liberal and currently popular notion of championing appeasement like Europe and all the rest of the former world powers. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Five years later, we should not focus on whether or not the war was handled correctly in its initial stages - most people, myself included, agree that the war was handled shoddily after victory was declared. We made enemies of the Sunni Muslims and added to the ranks of Al Qaeda, but there is nothing we can do to rewrite history.
Since Gen. Petraeus's arrival in the Middle East, however, the Sunnis are working with our troops because they have grown tired of the radicals' antics. This is why we have seen a change in the amount of violence in Iraq, and it is why we are being successful in our campaign currently. To surrender and retreat now when we have finally turned the corner towards success would be a colossal mistake. It would not honor those who have died, like some think, but would belittle and make vain the lives of our fallen soldiers.
Pay tribute to our men's and women's sacrifices by organizing events that help the soldiers' families or send the soldiers themselves care packages, not by coordinating protests that demean their efforts. How would you react if a group of people got together to protest your studying for a test? How successful would you be in taking the test?
Yes, we must bring our troops home - but we must do everything we can to allow them to return home in victory.
Earnest is an economics freshman.
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