Dilemma of Iraq: stay in or get out

Some years ago, we entered Iraq for fear of atomic and biological weapons in the hands of a rogue government. Whether right or wrong, that decision is now history.

The question now is how to extricate ourselves from this war. We cannot afford men and money to police the world, nor can we allow a minority of radicals to control oil and provide a base to cause greater problems.

We owe it to our veterans to bring them home soon as possible. We also owe it to our allies, friends and the people in Iraq not to abandon them to Islamic radicals and retribution, which would tell the world that our promises and friendship cannot be relied upon.

There is no yes or no answer to this problem; it is rather a real dilemma.

An excellent talk by retired captain Fred Odisho, a West Point graduate and Iraq veteran, at the Des Plaines monthly veteran's roundtable brought this and many other facts to light.

The counterinsurgency war is doing well. These radicals cannot win; their objective is to hold down a large force of our troops until we lose heart and leave.

We did not learn our lessons in Vietnam where the Viet Cong, not the North Viet troops, beat us. We are learning it now and progressing well in Iraq.

It is estimated that to beat them may take from nine to 14 years. Some of our troops will be needed for a longer period to guide the Iraq forces.

Whether a presidential candidate promises withdrawal in six months or a number of years, they will probably change their promises once they are briefed by the military and made aware of the overall picture . Congress can dictate strategy but is not capable of telling our military how to win a war.

William McNutt

Des Plaines