What is moral about demanding even more needless sacrifice of American lives merely to save face with the mistake of invading and occupying Iraq? Doesn't it seem awfully strange that the Iraqi government we support is an ally of the Iranians who are our declared enemies? Are we not now supporting the Iranians by propping up their allies in Iraq? If Maliki is our ally, and he has diplomatic relations with Ahmadinejad, why can't we? ... Why should we not expect many of the 80,000 Sunnis we have recently armed to someday turn their weapons against us, since they, as well as the Mahdi Army, detest any and all foreign occupation? ... Since no one can define winning the war, just who do we expect to surrender?
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- He criticizes further American sacrifice in Iraq, highlighting the irony of supporting an Iraqi government allied with Iran, a declared enemy.
- In plain terms
- He calls it absurd to sacrifice more lives while backing an Iran‑aligned Iraqi government.
- What can you take from it?
- Reevaluate alliances that conflict with national interests and cost lives.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When do alliances become counterproductive?
- How to balance moral costs with strategic goals?
Another view
Complex geopolitics may limit options for immediate withdrawal.
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