Fighting Since 1990

By Patrick Appel

Reihan unpacks what he means by a "strong national defense"

I will say that I’m struck by those who argue that those who adhere to the Bush-Obama policy of keeping the United States engaged in Iraq are the ones who want to “prolong” the conflict, as the shadow war between these two countries has been going on since at least 1990, if you include the devastating effect of sanctions and the low-level air war. There is real chance that the war might finally end, provided we extend security guarantees and help achieve a durable political settlement. And yes, I understand that my use of the “Bush-Obama policy” will raises hackles. It’s meant to — the gap at this point between AEI and the Center for a New American Security is small and shrinking, as the post-2006 shift in Iraq has forced informed observers to take a more pragmatic approach.