Would withdrawal from Iraq increase or decrease human suffering?

[bryant69]

Apparently we Liberals don't really grapple with this question. I thought we did, but Dennis Prager's latest article ( http://www.townhall.com/columnists/column.aspx?UrlTitle=liberals_dont_ask_what_happens_next&ns=DennisPrager&dt=02/06/2007&page=full&comments=true ) asserts that we don't. And if you can't trust conservative pundits, who can you trust.

Left-wing "peace activists" do not seem to concern themselves with the question of what happens if their policies are enacted and America leaves Iraq. But those of us who are concerned with this question are certain that war and murder, torture and rape of the innocent will increase. That is why "peace activist" is usually a misnomer. They usually bring war, not peace.

Thank you Mr. Prager. So let's grapple with it - will withdrawal from Iraq increase or decrease human suffering?

I think in the short term things might be a little worse, but in the long term things will be a lot better. It also depends on how we leave, of course.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[babylonsister]

1. I don't think anyone, including the self-righteous Prager, can answer that. nt

[slackmaster]

2. Without a doubt

:argh:

[MadHound]

3. I think that it will be much like Vietnam

In the short term, yes, human suffering will increase. And I'm talking about perhaps a year here. In the long term however, human suffering will decrease, and overall, if we pull out, there will a lot fewer casualties.

[BOSSHOG]

4. Pragar is lying conservative swine

Let us never forget the reason we are there now. BUSH LIED and was enabled to do so by garbage like pragar so thats settled and we know who's fault this travesty and death and destruction is. We should get out as soon as is possible. If there is rape and bloodshed and mayhem then we can look at Iraq and show the world what "conservatism" leads to. And Pragar and his kind don't give a fuck about Iraqis or American Soldiers in the field of battle. They only think that if we stay there long enough there will be a great American victory. Sound familiar.

Because of "conservatives" people in the world suffer. Period.

[JuniperLea]

11. Exactly right!

From the same bunch of bastards who tell you we can't discuss...create time lines...can't be divisive of the administration because we are emboldening the enemy.

It's all bullshit. They aren't going to miraculously start telling the truth now. Whatever they say, it's a safe bet that the opposite is true. That being said, I'm betting things would settle down and few people would be killed per day.

[magellan]

5. The murder, torture and rape of the innocent by Iraqis may increase

But the murder, torture and rape of the innocent by Americans will decrease.

[Hippo_Tron]

6. We can't stop the human suffering by staying in Iraq

It's either going to happen now or it's going to happen two years from now. Keeping the troops in won't change that.

[originalpckelly]

8. I agree...

it's going to happen one way or the other, only if we stay more American troops will die.

[originalpckelly]

7. It will increase human suffering, big time...

It's possible millions of Iraqis will be killed.

[bryant69]

15. So you favor us staying in Iraq?

Bryant

[JuniperLea]

9. I think Mr. Prager should share his cristal ball with the world

Because that is what it would take to know for sure. The fact that he had to get all "left-wing peace activist" on us is telling. There ain't no salt grains big enough...

[krispos42]

10. Neither

The human suffering as a result of this invastion has been predetermined. It will happen.

We added to it with a series of missteps, miscalculations, and general incompetence.

What we are debating now is when this human suffering will be realized. Our actions in trying to prevent it are only delaying it, at the cost of ancillary human suffering during the delay.

The cost of delaying the cashing of the "Iraq on its own feet" chip is the cashing of more chips of delay and incompetence.

Do it now. Seal the borders with Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Syria, offer financial aid and recontruction advisors, and let them sort it out themselves.

[whistle]

12. Neoconservative suffering would clearly increase as would the suffering

...of Bush/Cheney, war profiteers, Halliburton, Carlyle Group, US puppet governments and corrupt politicians. But none of these matter as they are not human. So human suffering hopefully would go down unless the bastards listed above remain in power in which case they will find other ways in which to inflict suffering on the human race.

[scarletwoman]

13. Gandhi said it best:

There is no people on earth who would not prefer their own bad government to the good government of a foreign power.

sw

[Hosnon]

14. Strict Utilitarianism is a very poor ideological refuge, in my opinion.

It should be a large consideration but I hope the columnist does not believe it should be the only consideration.

[endarkenment]

16. The criminal engaged in an ongoing crime has no ethical position to consider

other than to first stop committing the crime. Then other issues can be addressed.

Will the suffering increase or decrease when we leave? I don't have my crystal ball handy, so I cannot answer that question with any certainty. What I am sure of is that we are causing an enormous amount of human suffering right now because of our criminal invasion and occupation of Iraq. Our presence there as an occupation force continues to cause fresh carnage every day.