Iraq: Vital to US National Security

The latest Washington Post/ABC News poll indicates that both Democrats and Republicans see Iraq as the most important issue in the 2008 elections. Most people recognize that US national security is tied to an autonomous stable Iraq, however, the best way to achieve this has and will be hotly debated. The current situation in Iraq is bad, no two ways about it. The Bush administration is leaning heavily on military commanders to establish a level of stability that will allow the majority of ground forces to leave and let Iraq start their democratic journey. General Petraeus's May letter to Iraqi's sends a genuine message hope but compels Iraqis to take ownership of their struggle for freedom. We need more of these leadership appeals from across the political spectrum, rather than legislation of arbitrary time lines, to convey a sense of urgency to Iraq without giving those trying to destabilize the country a light at the end of the tunnel to surge toward. The effect of such a strategy will result in increasing support from the Iraqi populace, a tightening noose around elements and their surrogates (Iran, Syria) that want Iraq as a country to fail and fewer coalition and Iraqi casualties. This is the quickest path to get our troops home and preserve our vital national security interest in Iraq.