One stereotype I find cliche of being a Republican and a supporter of keeping troops in Iraq is that we are pro war junkies.  This couldn't be further from the truth.  I do support keeping troops in Iraq.  That is fact.  What that means is often interpreted in a negative light. 

I like everyone in America want to see our troops come home as soon as possible.  I don't like hearing about friends deploying time and again to risk their lives in the defense of our country.  Nor do I approve of making Iraqi's day to day lives a living hell. 

If we bring our troops home prematurely common sense needs to prevail on the consequences that will inevitably occur.  If you think there is a power void in the region now, imagine what it will be if we simply hand Iraq on a silver platter to Al Qaeda and Iran.  It is already proven that both of those elements are desperately trying to excercise influence in Iraq and the region to undermine the security of the free world.  For every Osama Bin Laden there are 100 replacements, for every Zarqawi there are thousands willing to fight in his absence.  Yes we need to send a message to Iraqis we will not be there forever, Yes the Iraqi people need to embrace the gift of freedom, from tyrannical govt's like Saddam Husseins, they have been given by brave American and coalition troops.  Simply withdrawing our troops and saying ok here's freedom with no instructions is wrong morally and tactically.  America has struggled to establish the perfect democracy for hundreds of years and we still are yet to get it completely right.  The Soviet Union stood for decades and brought the world to the brink of nuclear war before it finally fell and began to embrace democracy.  Germany went through 2 world wars and wasn't reunited until the early 80's before democracy found a home there.  5 years simply isn't enough time to gage the success or failure of our operation in Iraq.  These people have lived under tyranny and terror for most of their existence and will need a lot of help to rebuild something they have never built.  The world doesn't have to wait for American troops to withdraw, and let Iraq crumble under the evil powers who would claim it, to do what it is we are all obligated to do in helping to rebuild there.  History has shown that in-action is inevitably more costly and ineffective then pro-action.  How many times did Al Qaeda attack America before 9-11?  Did in-action stop them there?  When did America do anything to justify Iran to take hostages for over 400 days in the late 70's?  America needs to reallize that our enemies aren't after territory or conquest or treasure.  Our enemies are out to destroy everything America, and the free world, stands for and everyone who has a difference in religion, opinion or belief.  Simply stepping out of the region and saying "ok world lets make them love us" is both irresponsible and unattainable.  Again this doesn't mean we stay in Iraq forever, but it is imperative to the future of Iraqis, the Middle East and the world that a successful democratic system is installed with a govt that has the strength to stand on its own two feet.