What do you think about abandoning Iraqi allies to whatever fate befalls their country?

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS - yes we could say it for 99.999 percent of the nation. But if we deployed to help our own citizens, we've failed as a nation. There's NOTHING we can't rationally talk about to try to solve a problem. We want to believe it's worse than it is to rationalize our divisions on whatever line you choose. We allow some clown on TV to tell us what to think, what to do, and when to jump. Who would've ever thought we'd have YouTube "hero's" or "patriots"? The sheep fall for it, and the wolves sit there laughing sipping tea with Kermit.

SSG Warren Swan It's not about helping our own Citizens though. It's about maintaining American ideals. Whether or not someone is a US Citizen is irrelevant to that philosophy.

Let's step away from Iraq for a second. Look instead to France. There is an Ideological Problem happening there, which originated in the Middle East. Would we not assist France? Literally our oldest Friend and Ally. Is not the best way to solve most problems to go to the root? I'm not saying this specific problem can be solved that way... but there are parallels. When we overlap the France issue, with the Iraq issue... then apply American philosophy and our own Ideology to it, I don't think retreat is feasible nor possible.

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS - Ok I'd agree there are some issues in France. France was the only reason we existed before, and we've paid them back twice. So I'd think we're even. Past that, we could go and help France, and I wouldn't see a problem with that if they asked. Placing an American ideal in the mix I do not think would go over too good. In France's case, I'd let them be the face that their public sees to build faith in their government and a "aura" of security from their LE and whatever forces they use in their country. We could assist outside the lines with intelligence and other LE means. Outside of that we're still dealing with the problem of how to deal with an idea that won't die easily. We have a foolish notion that dropping munitions and arming locals is the best course of action. We've failed in every sense of the word in that case. Not that the men and women charged with completing the mission couldn't, but their senior leadership here, doesn't want to admit their way has limits, and is prone to failure. The whole By, With, and Through was a great idea, but we consistently back the wrong person, or allow one group prosperity and another to suffer once the roles are reversed. That happened in Iraq, and to an extent in the Stan. In this case, we need to break away from the standard approach and hit the problem from a different angle. 100 years folks fought for civil rights with just about every weapon used at the time, unjust laws, and prejudiced legislators. Those who wanted those rights, women, Blacks, child labor, all used the same tatic but in different ways to make change in a positive way. The idea held firm all that time until the laws that were needed came to be. This is the same attitude we need to approach ISIL or whoever. Sure we can bomb you back into your mothers womb, but we'd much rather educate you, show you through your peers how you can prosper without the need for random acts of terrorism, we're not going to "buy" your favor anymore, but will "shame" you which I think in the Stan, a man's pride is something else. They ARE some prideful having people. We could look in our own history books and find a plausible solution to some of the ailments that ISIS brings to the table and many wouldn't be violent in nature. We could even use BLM as an current example of grassroots protesting (for the most part, they are non violent...but kinda confrontational) for chance. Afghani's love to protest....anything. BLM is also a good example being most of their information is sent over the net. Videos and the like, very little in person. Most terrorist orgs work the same way. So we "could" use BLM's method of "success" as a template against ISIS, and terror orgs like them. We "could" do all this from the "luxury" of home. We have the technology and the know how to do this. It's just not a "sexy" option, and many in America only think weapons and bombs are the solution. And for those who still want to act up, we have a more permanent solution to their ailments. Bad men who do bad things to bad people. For this to work, we NEED to use this tactic equally, and not make one area greater than another....based of skin color or natural recourses...or religion.

SSG Warren Swan - I'm just pointing out that once we decided to "involve ourselves" there is no turning back. As the old proverb goes, save a man's life and you become responsible for him.

When WE chose alter the natural history of the Middle East, whether it was in WWII, 1970s, 1990s, post 9/11, or the modern era (we've done it A LOT), we gave up the ability, and the future choice of saying "not our problem." We made it our problem.

Ignoring the entire Global Stability issue, to which Iraq is integral (to Regional Stability leading to Global Stability), treat it like an oil spill. If a corporation spilled oil in the middle of one of the great lakes, who is responsible for cleaning it up? Regardless of whether or not the folks that live on the shore have a ^&$^& town.

I thank you for this topic values ​​Thank you sir
شكرًا لكم بمجرد التفكير بهذا الموضوع هو عمل انساني ياسيدي
ساعدوني أرجوكم
لدي مايثبت عملي مع الجيش
وعرف الضباط الذين كانت اعمل معهم وحاول الاتصال بهم بدون رد
وكان عمل مع فرقه عسكرية
وقدمت كل جهدي للعمل بجهد وتعرضي للخطر نشكركم جدا

Thank you for your risk, in what you did to help.
Form my time working with MNSTC-I, it was a constant chore to have the Iraqi Army do a lot to secure their own zone (Al Anbar). Even the translators were frustrated.

Muayad Al-Jburi ,
The risk the interpreters for the military and NGOs was real and is even more so now as chaos takes over regions of Syria and Iraq. The New non-profits like http://www.nooneleft.org/ are stepping in where the State Department is failing.

And make no mistake Sgt Kennedy, our Nations are playing RISK...