Re: McCain on Iraq - Withdrawl will lead to civil war
^ I know all that, though I differ in one thing. Americans did not divide Iraqi people in ethnic groups. They were divided in different ethnic/sectarian groups much before American invasion, and were held as one country simply because of a brutal dictatorship.
No power in this world can solve their ethnic/sectarian issues. These have been simmering for decades and centuries. Even America is not so powerful. Iraqis themselves have to figure out how they want to co-exist (or not) with each other.
So now the question is, does America have the backbone to keep taking the human and financial cost of a deeply unpopular war. With this war already costing hundreds of billions already (and estimated to be around 3 trillion by the end), US really does not have the financial wherewithal to carry on merrily. And the four thousandth casuality last week was a stark reminder of the terrible human cost. All this to prevent a failed middle eastern country from a potential civil war? Who are we kidding here??
If the question is that Al-Qaida will have a safe haven in Iraq, then you have to remember, Al-Qaida already has safe havens in Afghanistan and Pakistan (like it or not), and these are close US allies right now. Go figure!