Should the Coalition pull out of Iraq?
Quagmire. Long and tough road ahead. Vietnam. These are all phrases and ideas that have come into many of our minds as we see what has unfolded in Iraq over these past eight months since the United States-led military entered Iraq. I will even go so far as to say that whether you are a Democrat, a Republican, a supporter of President Bush's foreign agenda or an advocate against it, these unfortunate thoughts have crept into your mind. A large portion of us at this University have discussed U.S. involvement in Iraq at great lengths in our classes, particularly those of us in the School of Public Affairs or in the School of International Service. And being the politically- and publicly-oriented student body that we are, we have all probably discussed the Iraq situation with our families and friends, and even probably with the person sitting next to you on the Metro or shuttle. It is normal to think the U.S. should simply leave Iraq as it is, not risk any further American lives, and let other world bodies take over the situation before it becomes "another Vietnam." If it were only so simple.