Withdraw to where, dear Congressman?

This story should not be missed. Everytime the children run amok through the house scattering the furniture, Mr. Hitchens seems to excel at rearranging everything.

If you live near Tarrytown, NY, you might be able to catch a Hitchens vs Ritter debate on December 20th. Now THAT would be must-see TV for me, unless of course it got in the way of the Grizzlies. Nah, I'd still choose Hitch vs Ritter, mainly to see what Scott has to say about this.

hat tip Jim Rose.

MORE 12/01

Congressman Murtha now says the US Military is broken down and worn out. He would know more than any blogger, however I suppose there's a tiny bit of politics there, too.

There's one little nagging problem I have with all this war stuff. When the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in the 80s, while Iraq was warring with Iran, the US acted under the table to intervene in both events. The entire funding of the Afghan Mujahadeen and subsequent creation of Bin Laden was a CIA-run clandestine operation designed to help drive the Soviets out while also helping bankrupt them. Meanwhile the US and other western powers were selling hardware to Saddam in his efforts against the nasty Ayatollahs.

The goals were achieved. The Soviet Union was toppled and Iraq battled Iran to a standoff, weakening both. The CIA high-fived one another, but what about blowback? If we inadvertently created both bin Laden and Saddam meddling around trying to put out fires, maybe we are just now paying the piper. Unlike many on the left who tote the same line, I believe our intentions were honorable regardless of the unintended consequences.

If our past has led to our present circumstances, it might certainly explain why we had to go after Saddam and why we can't produce Bin Laden as yet. Bush has been reluctant to give many details about why we fight, preferring to say "to make America safer". I have absolutely no doubt he's telling the truth about that, it's the 'why' that remains a little fuzzy.

But let's assume part of the above drivel is correct. Is there any way out? Even if we take up Murtha's mantle and withdraw from Iraq, stepping back will lead to stepping out. As Hitchens indicates, we can't simply "withdraw over the horizon". Doing so would send an unbelievably bad message, with far worse consequences than our retreat from Vietnam, and we'll surely lose the WoT. Therefore, we're left with no choice but to stay the course. Perhaps that's what Bin Laden and Saddam had in mind, I don't know. I do hope we have a "good plan for victory".