Somewhat related — One of the reasons there’s no econ development in Palestine, and no interest in it, is because those “leaders” realize that economic development would deter terror recruiting efforts. As long as the EU, US, and UN keep feeding that area money with no expectations or strings (and no accountability, which explains Arafat’s widow’s wealth), it won’t change.

I also realize my position on the war is probably not one shared by many on the left, that’s okay too. We should have sent more troops in quite some time ago but we didn’t, so we are now at the point where something needs to be done or face the reality of what Iraq would become if we were to leave. It’s a difficult decision. I’d love to say bring the troops home now, but the next question that comes to mind is then what? How many Iraqis would die if we left immediately? What would happen to the middle east if Iraq basically becomes another Iran. While I don’t think it would become the terrorist nation that the President suggests since Islamic nations seem to have a pretty hard hand with dissenters, the Kurds who we already abandoned before would be in a horrible position as well as the Sunni which would create even more problems in the middle east as the nations with a Sunni majority are not going to sit by and allow that to happen, especially if the US leaves. I hope the President is right and that these 21,500 troops can accomplish this but I don’t have a lot of confidence in the Iraqi government or their military.

I realize there’s not universal agreement in either party, but I’m surprised that Pelosi is among those who wanted more troops relatively early (though I think in truth it may have been posturing and something she’s never really wanted, which is an annoying habit of hers and many others).

Glad you wrote, because I’ve been meaning to blogroll you, and just did (in Other Localities/State Lists).

However, I disagree with the statement that this is an “international coalition” given it states:

To date, 21 nations have deployed more than 16,000 troops to the U.S. Central Command’s region of responsibility.

While that is of course 16,000 less Americans being sent, if you compare that to the numbers of American troops that have been sent to Iraq during the same time period, it make meet the dictionary definition of a “coalition” but in reality it was and is a “super majority” of Americans who face the majority of the risks, the deaths as well as the costs.

I’d also point out that there is not agreement within the Democratic Party on this issue, just as their is not agreement within the Republican Party on this issue. Take this article as one example.