A New Approach

As the Iraqi parliament puts forward a new plan for the parliamentary election process, the United States watches with anxiety. The parliamentary elections largely dictate the United States' exit strategy.

The United States, however, should not be in such a hurry to fully evacuate. It is obvious why they are eager to leave, the war has cost far more than it has been worth. However, the United States is there. They should finish the job. What job do they need to finish? The United States needs to rebuild the country that it almost single-handedly destroyed.

These efforts do not need to be solely militaristic. There are schools, medical facilities, and housing that all need to be rebuilt. These actions would have two benefits: it gains the trust of the Iraqi people, taking some of the fire out of the insurgents' cause.

A change in focus would get the United States out of Iraq faster and create more stability in a region that desperately needs it. The United States should be there to help the Iraqi people, not satisfy their own ends.