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• Monday, April 9, 2007 11:49 AM

  We need to answer a question about the Iraqis who worked with us

  I'm fully cognizant that McCain and the delusional right have been, well, delusional since the beginning about Iraq. I say that as someone who opposed the invasion back in 2002 when the evidence presented to the public failed to hold up. I nonetheless can't help thinking about mass killings and exodus of refugees after we got out of Indochina.

  I say that fully aware that the problem was intervening in Vietnam and spreading the war to Laos and Cambodia, backing dictators and abandoning those who supported us. Nonetheless, war opponents and Democrats got most of the blame. The neocons are setting us up for the blame again, and concerns about what happens to those who supported us in Iraq are legitimate. I have them too, before ever hearing a warning from the nutcase right.

  We have leave at some point, and the problem of safety for those deemed collaborators won't go away. That's why I'd like to see the withdrawal plans include enough visas to evacuate those associated with us. I realize the Bushies won't want that because it looks like an admission of failure to have to bring people here for their safety, but that should just show it needs to be done. Yes, I'll admit more than humanitarian concerns, though that should be enough; nonetheless, we need to get ready for the "who lost Iraq?" debate. If we lose that debate, which we can no matter how much Bush screwed up, we'll lose foreign policy and national security as in issue again for another generation.

  —webcelt Read webcelt's other letters
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