Ted Poe: “the war in Iraq is the most difficult and important issue facing our Nation today. The stakes there are simply too high…”

“the war in Iraq is the most difficult and important issue facing our Nation today. The stakes there are simply too high for us to ignore the consequences of failure. Most military analysts agree that an arbitrary immediate withdrawal from Iraq would spiral that country and the surrounding region into chaos. Failing to secure Iraq will provide a fertile ground for terrorist actions that affect not only Iraq, but America and the rest of the free world. Extremist organizations will tout an American retreat as a major victory for terrorism. Once again saying that America doesn't ever have the stomach to finish a war. Terrorist leaders will make use of a fractured Iraq to train, equip, and provide sanctuary for their forces in much the same way that Afghanistan provided a haven for the Taliban and al Qaeda. Radicals will exploit the anarchy and abandon Iraq and will seek to spread jihadist movements to moderate Arab States. Arbitrary withdrawal will only encourage our enemy. War is hard, but a planned defeat by retreat is hardly an answer to success. And that's just the way it is.”