The Destabilization Of Iraq Continues Eleven Years Later

The invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003 over WMD that did not exist and the over throw of Saddam broke that country and it was President George W. Bush who gave the order to do so.  That left the problem to fix Iraq to the next President who happened to be Barack Obama.  There was no more Saddam to keep the terrorist groups out of Iraq like he did and now those terror groups are stronger than ever.

The recent decision by President Obama to drop needed aid to those civilians in Iraq that are being punished by ISIS, the worst of the terror groups in Iraq was the right thing to do.  I also think Obama's decision to use American air power and support the formation of a new government in Iraq and urging the Iraq military forces to stand up and fight for their country was the right thing to do.

The President's reluctance to commit American ground forces to the middle east is a sound policy decision.  We have been there in the past, done that, suffered heavy casulties by terrorists and not the country's military who were supposed to be the threat.  Terrorists can always fade out, then come back in at their own choosing and keep American's ground forces there forever.

The solution is a political one in Iraq and the middle east.  We know that because two thousand years of war has not brought security to that troubled land.  The leaders of Israel have yet to learn that.  Bush did not and he is still in denial.  So far President Obama has learned that and that troubled countries have to step up to the plate and be willing to do all they can to resolve their own problems.

American leaders have to rethink how our country reacts to trouble spots in the middle east, especially when our military trains other countries military like we did in Iraq and are still doing in Afghanistan only to see their military cut and run when challenged by the terrorists, even to the point of given up their weapons.  How many times or how long should Americans be expected to sacrifice for another country and its people that are not willing to sacrifice themselves for their own country and its people.

The final chapter on Iraq has yet to be written after 11 years and how much longer it takes is anyones guess.  Hopefully President Obama will continue to seek the wisdom necessary to make future decisions concerning our country and our men and women in uniform who have been at war long enough.


This commentary written by John Lucia