Letter: Bin Laden wins if we leave Iraq

Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2007 | 7:02 a.m.

In a Fox News opinion poll released Jan. 18, six in 10 Americans said they believed Osama bin Laden would consider it victory if we left Iraq before stabilizing the country. Our politicians have been squabbling over a congressional nonbinding resolution opposing the president's planned "surge" of troop levels.

Such a resolution may be speeding victory to Osama. It signals that the prelude to "giving up" has begun.

Generally, stabilization of Iraq presents three options: Continue doing the same (slower failure), remove our troops (quicker failure) or give the Iraqi-conceived, Iraqi-led stabilization plan a chance to succeed. Our military commander in Iraq, Gen. George Casey, developed the plan for President Bush's approval.

Some in Congress are saying: Bring the troops home, Mr. President.

Bringing the troops home now gives victory to Osama and affiliates. As indicated by the opinion poll, that may not sit well with 60 percent of Americans.

When Saigon fell, the world felt the consequences. The communists did gain rule over South Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Almost one-seventh of Cambodia's population fell to genocide perpetrated by Pol Pot's regime. In Vietnam's reeducation camps, hundreds of thousands died. Millions of refugee "boat people" fled their homelands. With our example of history, giving up in Iraq may hold worse consequences.

It's usually a temporary condition when our sports teams are defeated. What makes lasting memories is "giving up."

In war there's no prize for the runner-up.

Elbert W. Lemmon, North Las Vegas