we might need to back away from the center of the conflict and let that fire burn, while keeping our troops in the north and perhaps on the southern border. And there is much that we can do, to keep both Iran and their Sunni neighbors from coming in massively to augment that conflict between the Shi‘a and the Sunnis.Two points:
We were unable to stand aside in the last large, regional conflict, the Iran-Iraq war, so ... [and we all know how ugly our involvement in that ended ...].
If one believes that the region is on the brink of a 30-years war, how do you 'let the fire burn out' while keeping the 'neighbors from coming in massively'? (I cannot see any way to keep the neighbors out, can you - they will be MOST determined, yes?)
If one starts to look at the risks of this retreat strategy, they are pretty high. It's hard to enumerate them all wihtout unwanted signalling, but think about what could go 'wrong' and how it might get exploited as much as Abu Grahib.
It's an option, for sure, but a very risky one ...
sullylink
