Family Life

12.15.11 | Sarah Harnisch

    45-hundred deaths and nearly nine years later-- the war in Iraq ended this morning, at a simple ceremony in Baghdad, presided over by Defense Secretary Leon Panetetta.
    Many Americans are rejoicing. But should we be?
     Senator John McCain said this morning this was never the plan-- to fight for eight years and walk away abruptly, leaving Iraq without a support system. McCain told the Today Show on Thursday  "I know for a fact, because I was involved, that there was very little real discussion with the Iraqis about a residual force being left behind, and it is what it is. We risk everything we have gained by this enormous sacrifice."
     He was asked if we are leaving behind a void that iran will fill. McCain mentioned Iraqi Cleric Muqtada Sadr-- who has been ping ponging back and forth between Iran and Iraq. He said Iraq is already filling America's presence. He said Sadr is a client of Iran, but is a part of the Iraqi government. He said there is tensions on the Kurdish/Iraqi border, and there's not the kind of intelligence that's necessary with U.S. assistance.
   Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt said whether or not we've won will be judged in the years to come. He said "will Iraq remain a self-sustaining democracy, at peace with its neighbors, no longer a threat to the region... if that's the case, then we can say we have won. There will be no victory parades. There will be no marching up and town Time's Square, but every soldier and their family should walk away extremely satisfied and proud of what they have accomplished and what they have left behind."
    1.5 million American troops sacrificed for this war.