We still need to be in Iraq, even if we don't belong in Iraq.

I know what you're probably saying to yourself: Lenny, you sound like a politician and a Republican apologist.

Before you paint me with those labels using a paintbrush of negative connotations, let me explain.

People like to take the now-popular stance that Senator Barack Obama states by arguing that we should have never gone into Iraq in the first place. Granted, Senator Obama may have been a critic of the military decision to invade Iraq and remove the Saddam Hussein.

Of course, as I pointed out in a recent mock debate, Senator Obama had the luxury of being an Illinois state senator in 2002, devoid of the flawed intelligence that Senators McCain and Obama-supporters (and former rivals) Senators Clinton and Biden relied on in order to vote with President Bush for the invasion by more than a 3 to 1 vote. ...



All of us now know that the information used to make the decision was faulty, thus leading to a round of mistrust of the Bush Administration, our "true intentions" for being in Iraq, and our overall apprehensions for being engaged militarily in a region that has harbored high levels of violence and instability for decades.

With that said, now that we are there, it is not a good idea to merely pull out without instilling a level of stability in the region.

What Senator John McCain and others are focusing on is the goal of stabilizing Iraq as a counterpoint to the constant threat of Iran and others in the region. Without the stabilization of Iraq, the U.S.A. runs the risk of a continued threat to the peaceful existence of Israel (a priority of America) as influences to the west (the oft-forgotten Syria) and east (Iran) of the country could lead to a coalition that features underground and/or state-sponsored networks of terrorism. With increased focus already given to Pakistan and Afghanistan, the U.S.A. can hardly afford to have an Iraq that "follows suit" in the region, as the result could lead to a multi-national network of terror that could rally themselves together behind common anti-American sentiment.

Just because we pull out of Iraq does not mean that this sentiment is going anywhere. It has been there for decades and unless if we deal with it in the Middle East, we will deal with it elsewhere throughout the world. At some point, we will need as many Muslim-led countries as possible to be civil with the United States in order to neutralize countries that are not without firing another salvo.

Now that we are there, we have to make sure that once we leave, this goal is accomplished.

Although it sounds good (and makes logical sense) to argue that Iraq has a current surplus while we run a $10 billion debt monthly overseas in the country, it must also recall that the Coalition effort destroyed much of the country, so how much of this "surplus" is based on pre-2003 levels should be evaluated. A weakened Iraq can not be expected to stand up to the pressures of anti-American (and anti-Israel) forces in the region such as Iran. Further, it makes sense to argue that the $10 billion can be invested into our domestic economy, including plans for infrastructure renovations and efforts to get people to work. However, we have to also remember that our economy took a severe hit after 9-11, a military attack from overseas that occurred on our soil.

The bottom line is this: the primary role of the president is to provide long-term safety for U.S. citizens as their commander-in-chief. Now that we are in Iraq – whether we got there under the best (or the clearest) of terms or not – we have to make sure that our withdrawal occurs after long-term goals for the region are within sight. Without that, we may risk the "world test" that Senator Biden claims will confront an Obama presidency (if he is elected) sooner than the 6 months that Senator Biden predicted. Thus, the focus of the next president must be winning the initiative in Iraq before taking next steps forward.

Even if this "world test" does sadly occur, we have to make sure that it occurs outside of our borders. Accomplishing long-term goals in Iraq, at this point, is the best way of securing this by confronting our challenges head-on. Pulling out prematurely is a risk we can not afford to take.
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Lenny McAllister is the Political Guru for Fox News - Charlotte and blogs the Republican side of the election for BlackVoices. He is a frequent contributor to The Charlotte Post and The North Carolina Conservative.