The Presidential election in the US in November 2008 will be shaped by the ongoing war in Iraq and the person who will come out on top will be the one who will be able to convince the people that America will not fail the war-ravaged country or put its own internal economy at risk.
But at the moment, it seems that all the Presidential candidates are taking a moderate and practical view of things.
The top three Democrat candidates for the most important job in American politics all declined to promise the complete pullout of American troops from Iraq by 2013, more than 5 years from now.
In a debate in Hanover, NH, they emphasized on a gradual withdrawal rather than a sudden pullout. In the latter situation, the Iraqi force won’t be able to shoulder the entire responsibility of restoring peace and security in the country.
The reluctance of the top Democrat candidates to confirm the exact time of the withdrawal of the US military from Iraq demonstrates how sensitive and vulnerable the situation is in the Middle East country.
It is guaranteed that a Democrat victory in the Presidential elections would invariably imply the pulling out of troops from Iraq but the question is by when the withdrawal process would be completed.
Another matter is the degree by which the forces deployed in Iraq will be trimmed by the end of this decade.
Most Americans are calling for the immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq but they fail to comprehend that such a drastic measure would result in the utter collapse of the spine in Iraq and then the entire world would be blaming the US for repeating the Vietnam history in history.
The most suitable solution at this point of time is training the Iraqi forces more efficiently and ensuring that they are capable enough of standing their ground against sectarian violence.
And only then can the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq can be contemplated on.
Image Source: CS.CMU
Source: Washington Post
