It's time to get real about Iraq

To the editor:

David Limbaugh, Republican leadership and other neo-cons keep saying: "Stay the course in Iraq. Finish the mission. Quitting now would be a disaster." I hear this parroted back by some locals.

I ask these folks, what is the mission? What does Iraq look like when the mission is accomplished? I get a deer-in-the-headlights look.

Think for yourself, and only two possible scenarios emerge. The most likely outcome is a prolonged civil war between Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds, with victory by the strongest group (Shiites) and an eventual dictator taking over. The dictator would be strongly aligned with Iran.

The second outcome is the best we could hope for. A democracy takes hold. Iraqis freely elect their leaders. The Shiite majority, with strong ties to Iran, would have control. Popularly elected Iraqi leaders would be mostly former insurgents who are now called freedom fighters and Iraqi national heroes. Their campaigns would be based on hatred of America. This hatred would be shared by the voting public, many of whom have family members killed in the war with America. Their government would be hostile to America and closely aligned with Iran, Hamas, Syria and Hezbollah. Within five years a new dictator would likely emerge, ending this democracy.

We are killing our children, bankrupting Social Security and Medicare and killing thousands of Iraqis for what? Instead of "cut and run," I say get real, bring our troops home and get rid of our current leadership.

BILL HUDAK, Jackson