We went into Iraq to fix things. We got rid of a dictator. We installed democracy. First we did the fighting; then we trained their troops to do the fighting. We equipped them. We helped them set up a government. We did the best we could. And after all the blood sweat and tears; years, equipment, money, and lives, we leave and what happens? Chaos. It’s coming apart.
Now back at home we attack each other over what we did wrong; who is to blame. Did we stay there too long? Did we not stay long enough? What else could we have done? What should we do now? Do we re-insert ourselves? If we don’t do anything are we disrespecting every life already lost in our efforts? Are we in so deep we can’t afford to quit?
Perhaps there is a lesson to be learned. Could it just be that the United States doesn’t get to decide everything? Maybe some things are just going to happen, no matter how much we want them to be different. Maybe we can’t make other people be like us, no matter how hard we try.
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