More Photos (1):

Other articles by Jon Kyl:

Jon Kyl: Repealing Patriot Act a step backward

General
Grocery/Market Mgr-Cafe/Restaurant Mgr Health Care
Mountain View Retirement Village
Caregivers Trades/Construction
Wentz and Patrick Construction
Carpenters & Helpers Sales and Marketing
Xentel
Expanding call center. New Hiring Bonus! Trades/Construction
Pioneer Landscaping
Yard Person/Loader Operator Trades/Construction
Pioneer Landscaping
Yard Person/Loader Operator Mechanical
Pioneer Landscaping
Diesel Fleet Mechanic

The U.S. Senate recently debated an issue of unsurpassed consequence: the war in Iraq and America's future there. Some senators, understandably expressing frustration with the expenses and mistakes we have incurred in Iraq, have argued for a specific date for withdrawal. That would be, we believe, a serious mistake. America has unfinished business in Iraq, and our troops cannot leave yet.

They cannot leave because the Iraqi security forces are plainly incapable of maintaining security on their own. On the contrary, even supplemented by coalition troops, the violence in Iraq remains unacceptably high — as the recent killings of Army Pfc. Kristian Menchaca and Army Pfc. Thomas L. Tucker illustrate so tragically.

To be sure, the Iraqi military is increasingly capable of dealing with these threats, but it requires our help. There is also much work remaining to ensure that the police forces are well trained and can play their vital role in bringing security to Iraq.

Some have argued that by setting a date for withdrawal, we will somehow send a message to the Iraqi leadership that our patience is limited, and that we expect Iraqis to shoulder their own burden quickly. But the Iraqi leadership knows this, and we should be helping them as they take on ever greater responsibilities. Instead, a deadline for withdrawal would change the calculations made by ordinary Iraqis. Joining the police or military would look like an increasingly bad bet, while participation in a militia — if only for personal protection — would appear better by comparison. By signaling an end to the American intervention, we will alienate our friends and tempt those undecided to join the anti-government ranks. And in so doing, we will have made the goal of stability in Iraq more difficult to achieve than ever.

If we abandon the Iraqis, forcing them to confront insurgents and terrorists on their own, we risk seeing their country break out into civil war. The consequences of civil war there would be catastrophic for the Iraqi people, to be sure, and would risk creating a failed state in the heart of the Middle East. We saw a failed state emerge in Afghanistan after U.S. disengagement in early 1990s, and we paid a dear price on 9/11. We cannot make the same mistake in Iraq. There is no choice but to stay in Iraq until the government there has fully functioning security forces that can deal with the insurgents and prevent sectarian violence.

What we must not do is what was proposed — and thankfully, defeated — in the U.S. Senate: set an arbitrary deadline for withdrawal that is rooted in our domestic politics. Domestic politics do play a critical role in this war, as in all others, and we hope that we bring home American troops as soon as possible.

But by suggesting to the American people that withdrawal is at hand, we risk once again raising unrealistic expectations, as we have done too often in the past. That can only cost domestic support for America's role in this conflict, a war we must win.

None of this is to say that success in Iraq will be quick or easy. On the contrary, this war is long and tough. We will see significant achievements, like the killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and the completion of the Iraqi cabinet. But we will see steps backward as well, like the continuing violence in Baghdad and the insurgency in Ramadi. No one should have any illusions about the costs of this conflict, as it has been waged thus far or as it will be waged as we move ahead. But neither should anyone have illusions about the role of Iraq in the war on terror today.

It has become a central battleground in our fight against those who wish us grave harm, and we cannot wish away this fundamental truth. We cannot fall prey to wishful thinking that we can put the costs and the difficulties and the frustrations aside by ignoring our challenges and responsibilities.

There is much at stake. When the U.S. puts its prestige and its military on the line, there is only one exit strategy possible: victory.

On StarNet: The online version of this article, available this week at azstarnet.com/opinion/sun.html, has links to two June 21 articles by Democratic senators advocating withdrawal or redeployment from Iraq.