Yes. My concern has always and only been that the full assessment of 'cons' has not been given consideration.
The pro of pulling out, and its a very powerful one, is no more loss of American life TODAY. I worry about tomorrow.
A few of the cons, and they should not be taken lightly, include
1) the fact that our strategy in dealing with terrorism and other threats to national interests has come to depend on partnerships. Every time we leave partners in the lurch, we make it more difficult to convince anyone we are reliable partners.
2) Intel. Nothing, no amount of surveillance or technology, beats having a presence, even a small one, on the ground, talking with locals, understanding the politics, knowing who should or should not get support, and who to trust should we need to step back in. You have to have relationships to maintain this, and that is exactly the purpose of SF.
3) Its already being reported that ISIS prisoners are getting set free or freeing themselves because our former partners, the Kurds, in the wake of our withdrawal, have lowered the priority of this to focus on fighting off the Turks. So another hard won battle gone to waste, similar to when Obama pulled out of Iraq. Those fighters WILL kill again, either in Iraq, or in Europe, or who knows where.
Frankly, peace has a price (in lives and treasure) for maintenance which is far lower than the price of achieving it. If we don't pay the maintenance price, we will eventually pay the larger war price. The footprint of advisors that was there was small, smaller than what still remains in Afghanistan today. I would argue that pulling out of Afghanistan would have made more sense strategically than abandoning the Kurds.
If we stop supplying ISIS with warfighting material, my guess is they will spend time beheading each other.
We have our oil.
If I were perfectly honest, I would say...”I don’t care.”
I am tired of sending my friends and family over there for a year at a time.
We need to declare war the old fashioned way.
We need mobilize the old fashioned way.
We need to define victory, the old fashioned way.
We need to destroy our enemies, and come home.
We play at war...with the lives of my friend and family.
Its not necessary. And its not right.
3) Its already being reported that ISIS prisoners are getting set free or freeing themselves because our former partners, the Kurds, in the wake of our withdrawal, have lowered the priority of this to focus on fighting off the Turks. So another hard won battle gone to waste, similar to when Obama pulled out of Iraq. Those fighters WILL kill again, either in Iraq, or in Europe, or who knows where.
Frankly, peace has a price (in lives and treasure) for maintenance which is far lower than the price of achieving it
Apparently, the Kurds have a “price” too if they are already releasing ISIS fighters. Pay us or we release the terrorists. That’s blackmail. Genuine allies don’t behave like that. Good riddance to them.
Thank you for the rational and cogent argument.
To me one big con is that the Middle East, with its long and troubled history and its divisive tribalism, seems to defy peaceful solutions or attempts at stability. Plus having a sizeable contingent of U.S. forces there could actually increase the possibility of war. All it takes is one mistake.
I understand that peace has a price but I’m not sure its attainable in the ME. It appears that congress feels the same way as they refuse to formally commit to supporting our involvement there.
That said, I could agree that a residual force may be justifiable. But even if Trump pulls out its likely that some of our special forces will quietly remain there in any case.