Mohammed Fadhil of Iraq the model asks that we stay to help Iraq.

Via NY Daily News: I wasn't surprised when I saw Al Qaeda's second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahiri, appear on Al Jazeera to announce America's defeat last week, not long after U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid did. Zawahiri claims Al Qaeda has won, and Reid claims America has lost.

But from here in Baghdad, I see only a war that's still raging - with no victory in sight for Al Qaeda or any other entity. In fact, I see Al Qaeda on the ropes, losing support among my fellow Iraqis.

In the midst of such a fierce war, sending more wrong messages could only further complicate an already complicated situation. It would only create more of a mess inside Iraq - a mess that would then be exploited by Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia for their own purposes: more iron-fisted control of the peoples and treasures of the region, more pushing the Middle East to crises and confrontations, and more spreading of their dark, backward ideologies.

And so, as an Iraqi, I say without hesitation: the American forces should stay here, and further reinforcements should be sent if the situation requires them. Not only that, these forces should be prepared to expand their operations whenever and wherever necessary to strike hard at the nests of evil that not only threaten Iraq and the Middle East, but seek to blackmail the whole world in the ugliest way through pursuing nuclear weapons.

So I began to think about that. I began to think about just how many decent Iraqis it would take for it to be worth staying. What is the right thing? I asked myself. I found my answer.

The Lord said, "If I find 50 godly people in the city of Sodom, I will save it. I will spare the whole place because of them."

Then Abraham spoke up again. He said, "I have been very bold to speak to the Lord. After all, I'm only dust and ashes. What if the number of godly people is five less than 50? Will you destroy the whole city because of five people?"

"If I find 45 there," he said, "I will not destroy it."

Once again Abraham spoke to him. He asked, "What if only 40 are found there?"

He said, "If there are 40, I will not do it."

Then Abraham said, "Lord, don't let your anger burn against me. Let me speak. What if only 30 can be found there?"

He answered, "If there are 30, I will not do it."

Abraham said, "I have been very bold to speak to the Lord. What if only 20 are found there?"

He said, "If there are 20, I will not destroy it."

Then he said, "Lord, don't let your anger burn against me. Let me speak just one more time. What if only ten are found there?"

He answered, "If there are ten, I will not destroy it."

Posted by: Howie at 02:31 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
Post contains 534 words, total size 3 kb.

1 You KNOW that there ARE ten there                        
                                         USA, all the way!

Posted by: Michael Weaver at May 10, 2007 07:32 PM (2OHpj)

2 I'll leave that to God.  If there are ten it will work out.

Posted by: Howie (laughing nervously looking over shoulder) at May 10, 2007 07:35 PM (YHZAl)

3 This is difficult. There will be more than one who must be saved.  Someone (we/they) could swing the sword either way, but that will not solve the problem of thousands of years of religiously inspired hate.

"Someone" must have the strength and resolve to grab these children by the scruff of their necks and hold them there long enough until they have come to their senses so they can learn to get along peacefully.  An occassional slap on the butt is certainly permissible.

When normal logic fails a well placed whomp tends to get a youngster's attention.  What is wrong with our leaders (rehetorical)? Don't they understand the effectiveness of "Walk softly, but carry a big stick." Our enemies do.

Posted by: Al at May 10, 2007 08:50 PM (i84rJ)

4 Well said Howie, Amen.  We will stand by the Iraqi people who have known little freedom, and now enjoy more because of our brave troops.

God bless the Iraqi people, and our brave troops--we must remain resolved to defeating the worst of the worst in the world.

Posted by: Richard Romano at May 10, 2007 09:08 PM (iD1fP)

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