Bill O'Reilly
Give chaos a chance
http://www.NewsAndOpinion.com |
It is hard to fathom, but there are Americans who believe that
if the USA cuts and runs from Iraq, there will be no negative consequences.
The far left is banging the "get out now" drum, but, fortunately, the beat
is not exactly catching on. While last week's peace demonstration in
Washington drew a decent crowd, it was certainly not overwhelming. And few
politicians showed up. Instead, we heard the noted political scientist
Jessica Lange call for U.S. troops to withdraw or she'll be mad.
Cindy Sheehan was there, of course. Her latest analysis is that
the attack on 9/11 wasn't an act of war, it was a "crime." And the USA was
mean to disrupt the lives of the Afghan people by removing the Taliban.
Cindy wants everybody to get along, she doesn't believe there is a worldwide
terror war, and even if there is, we started it.
By the way, I told you in this space a few weeks ago that
President Bush would be crazy to meet with Cindy Sheehan because right after
the meeting she'd run out and bad-mouth him to the press. Well, Sen. John
McCain did take the time to meet with Ms. Sheehan, who then promptly called
McCain a "warmonger."
A new Rasmussen poll says 54 percent of Americans understand
that if America cuts and runs from Iraq, that country will descend into
chaos. Just 20 percent believe Iraq would be better off if we split. I'll
bet Jane Fonda is one of those 20 percent, and boy, would I like to ask her
this question: "You know, Ms. Fonda, after the USA pulled out of Southeast
Asia in the mid-'70s, the communists slaughtered about 3 million human
beings in Cambodia and South Vietnam. Did you ever mention that in your
subsequent peace comments?
It is hopeless to try to reason with far-left or far-right zealots on any matter but, thankfully, most Americans reject extremes. Iraq might not be the best battlefield to conduct the war on terror, but here's what would happen if America pulled out quickly.
- Iran would step into the security breech and back the Shi'a
in the fight against the Sunni insurgents. Thus, Iran would exert control in
the southern half of Iraq and increase its power in the Gulf.
- Sensing weakness in America, Iran would harden its nuke
position and accelerate developing nuclear weapons. Iran is already
harboring and funding al Qaeda terrorists, so you can do the math on this
scenario.
- The al Qaeda terrorists currently inside Iraq would transit
through Iran into Afghanistan and begin to destabilize the new democratic
government in that country. With experienced al Qaeda fighters undermining
security, the Karzi government would come under siege, and the USA would
have to commit more forces to that country.
- Syria would step up its support of Hamas and Hezbollah,
which would lead to more violence inside Israel and Lebanon.
- And finally, the jihadists worldwide would proclaim a great victory over the great Satan. Terrorist funding and recruitment would skyrocket, and the USA would be humiliated.
The Bush administration must win the war in Iraq and then
reexamine the most effective way to defeat worldwide terrorism. It has
become clear that the terror state of Iran, not Saddam's Iraq, was and is
the USA's most vicious enemy.
Jessica Lange may not get this, but most Americans do. It is
vital that we defeat those who would kill us, no matter where they are.
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JWR contributor Bill O'Reilly is host of the
Fox News show, "The O'Reilly Factor," and author
of, most recently, "Who's Looking Out for You?" Comments by clicking here.
