Implications

Obviously if we do not find a solution for a peace process in the Middle East, we will find ourselves in an atrocious situation. Since the war in Iraq is the greatest conflict in the Middle East right now I will focus this post on the fallout to a failed Iraq policy. If we take the path of staying in Iraq and establishing military bases in the country we will face grave outcomes. The US will lose legitimacy globally which will lead to the loss of key allies. Establishing military bases in Iraq will only increase anti-American sentiment in the region. This will lead to more extremism and more terrorist recruitment. If this path is taken we can expect more terrorist activity throughout the globe, meaning more loss of life both for American troops and innocent citizens around the world.

The other path that will lead us into greater conflict in the region would be if we left Iraq too early. If we leave Iraq before their forces are able to maintain stability and protect their own people and borders then we will see an escalation to the conflict. We can already see sectarian violence between the Sunni and Shiite sects in Iraq with US military presence. Now imagine the US not there to decrease the fighting. Without the US or Iraqi military presence the two sects would go after each other with more intensity. The civil war in Iraq will spill over to neighboring countries. Iran will take the side of the Shiite and Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations will take the side of the Sunni. We will see a front started in Lebanon as Sunni and Shiite are already in conflict there. Ultimately this action will lead to WWIII and in the end the US will have to get involved once again with an even bigger problem than they had left.

It is in US and the world's best interest that we resolve the Iraq war now so that we can avoid even greater consequences in the future.