That is also the outcome America's enemies dream about and live for: a
re-enactment of this country's "exit strategy" from Vietnam, which was more
exit than strategy. After Henry Kissinger's indecent "decent interval," our
ally was left to founder, then collapse.
The pictures of Vietnamese clinging to the struts of American helicopters as
their hopes of freedom disappeared would have a powerful effect on our
enemies long after the war was over. Honor cannot be sacrificed without
cost. Even decades later.
There was one remarkable moment during those agonizing Senate hearings about
what policy to pursue in Iraq. It came when John McCain, who has reason to
know all too much about the Vietnam War, pointed out that Iraq is not
Vietnam:
"We left Vietnam, it was over. We just had to heal the wounds of war. We
leave this place, chaos in the region." And beyond. Because, as Sen. McCain
warned his colleagues, our enemies will follow us home. To quote him, "I
believe the consequences of failure (in Iraq) are catastrophic."
Catastrophic? Well, maybe only disastrous. The free world survived Munich,
after all, and a long series of defeats after that. But at what a cost!
Leave Iraq in disgrace and an old lesson will be taught much of the world
once again: It may be dangerous to be America's enemy, but it is fatal to be
her friend.
Talk about a profile in political courage: Is this the same John McCain
who's about to run for president? Doesn't he know a presidential candidate
is supposed to offer facile solutions, not still more sacrifice? Doesn't he
know the course he advises, already unpopular, is bound to grow even more so
as one test of American endurance follows another?
Why commit more troops even while the usual distinguished advisers prepare
to recommend fewer? Naturally they won't call it defeat but something like
Gradual Withdrawal, even though the effect will be the same. For when the
Kissingers and Bakers turn up at the bedside of a patient in crisis, they
come not so much as doctors but pallbearers.
Why then would John McCain have sounded his warning, and taken so unpopular
a position? Maybe because he believes in honor. And because he knows that,
though honor is but one guide among many in confusing times, it remains the
surest.