Editorials
GUEST EDITORIAL: What has U.S. presence accomplished in Iraq?
It’s been six years and counting since our invasion of Iraq. What has been accomplished? Certainly a brutal dictator has been overthrown and his regime silenced.
The Iraqi military forces and government are no longer a threat to any neighbors, including Israel and Iran. While shaky at best, a democratically elected government is in place. Western countries have much stronger and more flexible diplomatic and economic relations with Iraq than ever before.
The big unknown at this point is: Can the Iraqi people sustain a consensus-based government, sharing power and profit with all their citizens? It may or may not be a democratic government, but some strength to contain sectarian violence, spread economic opportunity to all citizens, and remain at peace with neighbors, and a whole host of other “democratic-like” contributions to peace and prosperity are now possible. That certainly could not be said in 2003.
In our view, American military force no longer plays a role in Iraq other than “peace-keeping.” Someone must contain the violence over time to allow democratic-like institutions to flourish. That should not be the role of American military power; it must be done by Iraqi institutions controlled solely by the Iraqi government.
It is now time for a broad and sustained military withdrawal of American military forces from Iraq. Whatever American forces of any sort that remain should be paid for exclusively by the Iraqi government.
We can argue forever about the wisdom of our invasion and presence in Iraq beginning in 2003. For sure, Iraq cannot be allowed to become another Korea, where today 30,000 American troops are held hostage to a crazy North Korean regime while “protecting” a rich and prosperous South Korea.
Withdraw now the 120,000 military personnel from Iraq, Mr. President and Congress. Do it as quickly as the safety of those troops will permit.
— The Joplin Globe, Joplin, Mo.
- Editorials
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Cuomo’s on his way
The stars seem to be aligning for Andrew Cuomo to claim the state's Executive Mansion as his home turf.
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OTHER VIEW: School athletics model may need work
State and federal budget cuts arriving this year at levels far deeper than in the past will focus public attention on the value of combining the essential service of education and the significant, but secondary, service of school athletics.
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OTHER VIEW: Travel is big business
U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey finished an editorial board meeting in Binghamton recently, he flipped through a few briefing papers. There was a key piece of information he wanted to remind editors of before he left the room.
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OTHER VIEW: Don’t invest in Iran
It’s an inexact calculation at best, putting a dollar figure on the undermined credibility of a legitimate U.S. effort to pressure Iran into thinking better of trying to develop nuclear weapons. Still, it’s worth a try.
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OTHER VIEW: Lawyers upheld American ideals
In the McCarthy era, demagogues on the right smeared loyal Americans as disloyal and charged that the government was being undermined from within. In this era, demagogues on the right are smearing loyal Americans as disloyal and charging that the government is being undermined from within.
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OTHER VIEW: State needs to look toward meaningful reform
As New Yorkers grapple with the latest scandals enveloping their governor, the state faces some harsh fiscal realities — and the budget-approval deadline is rapidly approaching.
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OTHER VIEW: Clean up, protect the Great Lakes
The Great Lakes finally are in line for real restoration work — beyond the hold-the-line effort that has been showing signs of slowing or actually reversing course.
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OTHER VIEW: Give Senate a chance to vote on medical marijuana
Imagine, an open and honest debate in the state Senate, and on a very relevant and substantive issue. What happens all too rarely could happen quite soon, on the topic of legalizing the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
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OTHER VIEW: Goals and standards make great schools
Yet another educational study has emerged and is now debated within a discipline forever searching for new figures, new emerging trends, new and unique methods for squeezing as much improvement in student performance that might be possible. This new study making rounds within the educational establishment is noteworthy in the way it dismisses the stylish in favor of common wisdom and the tried and true.
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OTHER VIEW: Stand by Kendra’s Law
New Yorkers need effective protection against violent attacks by the mentally ill, and the deeply troubled need proper treatment to prevent them from bloodily losing control.
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Cuomo’s on his way
