September 4, 2007

President Bush paid a surprise Labor Day visit to Iraq to see for himself what effect the surge in American troops is having. Next week, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, General David Petraeus, will deliver his report to Congress on the progress E.S. troops are making in stabilizing the country. It’s expected to be a mixed bag – with some success and a lot still left to do.

I confess my own misgivings about this war, but there is no alternative to a stable Iraq. We must do whatever it takes to bring that about. Actually, there is an alternative: an unstable Iraq. Instability would bring chaos, massive bloodshed and occupation either by Iran, or terrorist forces loyal to and subsidized by, Iran.

There is little doubt that Iraq would then serve as a terrorist base for attacking Israel. Iraq’s vast oil reserves would then be used to pay for terrorist acts against the united states.

We can disagree about whether the war was worth it another time, but the United States cannot afford defeat in Iraq and whatever the cost, it must be paid.

Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.