[alnitak]

Interesting take. Timing CAN be everything.

[xJones]

We need to do this now, from a position of strength, rather than waiting some months when our presence in Iraq may seem less commanding. The U.S. has no business stationing its forces permanently in a country that will not let our women soldiers walk the streets freely.

I couldn't agree more with him.

[doc11355]

Right after we pull out of Saudi Arabia, let's move our troops out of Germany and into the "New" European countries that would welcome them. A side benefit would be that they'd be that much closer to Russia where they'd be perceived by them as more of a threat and would act as a more effective deterrent to Russia's sticking it to us on the world stage like they did recently.

[KeyLargo]

Yes, and we should pull our troops out of NATO and Germany in particular. There are other European countries that would love to have us!

[KeyLargo]

We should also pull our troops out of Japan. Its about time that the Japs started paying for their own defense!

[Moosilauke]

...a withdrawal will be perceived not as weakness but as an act of magnanimity and common sense.

We will think of it as a generous, trust building act. Few in the region (and even fewer in the hate America movement) will perceive it that way. There will be no end of satanic explanations for our actions. That's because we are the great satan. If we've learned anything from the overthrow of Saddam, it's that the Arab world is seriously out of touch with reality. To choose our actions based on the expected impression they will have on the Arab world would be very foolhardy. We would become, in effect, the enablers of their schizo world view.

That's not to say we shouldn't yank our forces from Saudi Arabia as soon as possible. If we do so, it should be for our own benefit, not as a sop to how the Islamists will view us.

[genefromjersey]

This is one of the best WSJ editorials I've read in months !

We DEFINITELY need to let the Saudis do their own housekeeping - win, lose, or draw.

I remember vividly the HUGE stockpile of arms and ammunition the Marines uncovered : The words SAUDI ARABIA were stencilled on the cases.

I saw this on FOX News; however, later telecasts of this incident did NOT show the SAUDI stockpile : I assume, because we are STILL trying to be nice to a known exporter and supporter of international terror : a country which sent 18 of its citizens to our shores to kill our people.

The time is ripe to say " Bless You ! " to the rest of the world, and to make full use of the Iraqi oil reserves.

Oh : As to the French, let them eat cake ! Let THEM depend on Wahhabi largess for their fuel supply !

[boris]

Isn't he the guy who claimed 'history has ended'?

Certainly that enhances his credibility.

--Boris

[Captain Kirk]

An Iraqi government isn't even been set up (or been allowed to be set up) and the WSJ is already planning permanent military bases in a country which will be theoretically sovereign. So much for the "choices" of the Iraqi people.