Report: U.S. Withdraw From Iraq Would Mean Chaos

Hmm . . . ya think? Isn't this exactly what I have been saying for months now? Actually, John McCain has been saying it, too. It's one of the few things we agree upon.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The United States is no closer to achieving its goals in Iraq than it was a year ago but a quick military withdrawal could lead to massive chaos and even genocide, according to a report released Sunday by a U.S. think tank.

The U.S. Institute of Peace report was written by experts who advised the Iraq Study Group, a panel mandated by Congress to offer recommendations on U.S. policy in Iraq in 2006.

The report was released two days before top commander Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker brief Congress on the situation in Iraq and prospects for American troop reductions. Their recommendations, which President Bush has signaled he will accept, could largely determine the course of action in Iraq for the coming year.

The report cited security improvements in Iraq since the buildup of U.S. forces in 2007, but credited factors outside U.S. control, such as help from mostly Sunni fighters who turned against al-Qaida and a truce by a Shiite militia.

"The U.S. is no closer to being able to leave Iraq than it was a year ago," it concluded. "Lasting political development could take five to 10 years of full, unconditional U.S. commitment to Iraq." (H/T - Yahoo!)

Okay, before everyone gets into the tired, boring debate of whether or not we should be in Iraq, save your breath and typing fingers: I don't give a rat's ass. We're there: move on. My main point for posting this story is two-fold:

First, America and its allies need to decide if they're going to pussyfoot around this thing, or if they're going to go full bore. That has been a problem since the beginning. The surge is working - even Democrats are acknowledging that - but every effort needs to be undertaken to crack down upon al Sadr's scumbags and al Qaeda toads by any means necessary. Take the gloves off, kids. It's time to smash some heads!

Second, when Barack Obama - face it, Hill-dabeast supporters: he's going to win the nomination - promises to immediately withdraw the troops from Iraq, he's just making speeches. Even he doesn't believe it. He cannot and will not do it; at least nowhere near as quickly as he claims. Obama's a smart guy, and he knows that complete, immediate withdraw would be a catastrophe. So, if that's your only reason to vote for him, you may want to rethink your decision.