taxicab politics

ive really come to enjoy cab rides in this city. i never really took cabs much at all before i moved here. it is true that most cabbies are foreign. and in this area, tend to be middle eastern. whether getting a lift home from a bar, entirely too intoxicated to talk politics, or sober on the way out, i inevitably engage the driver in some sort of political conversation.

thus far the consensus from the cabbies is that McCain is not the guy for the job. most have liked Obama, but a few are for Clinton. this didnt really surprise me.

th cabbies have helped me change my perspective on the idea of withdrawal from Iraq. i have thought that we couldnt just up and leave. that doing this would leave the country utterly mired in turmoil. but they said something i hadnt thought of, and i think that Washington is entirely missing. the US is both disrupting and keeping peace. we have to keep a presence large enough to protect itself there, or no presence at all.

'terrorists target Americans. if there are no more Americans, terrorism in Iraq falls.' this is the paraphrased statement a cabbie made to me lately. i cant help but think he is right. the only want that we can keep a peace there is to have large contingent there. if we leave, it takes out one cause of instability. it leaves the Iraqis to figure it out. and they need to step up soon. i have always learned best in a trial by fire situation. perhaps throwing them the reigns and leaving is the best solution. 'give us a call if you need anything.' and let them go for it. at least that way its theirs. its not something Bush, or America has shoved down their throats.

i also heard a story on NPR the other day about all that money from oil that was supposed to be used in reconstruction. there is oil money. but Iraq isnt spending it. why would they when the American pocket book is open. im not going to buy lunch if someone else is willing to. at some point we have to stop making this our problem.

it doesnt sit well with me to create a mess and walk away from it. but if youre only going to make things worse, no matter how much you try, eventually you just have to cut your losses and walk away.

all i am saying is that the decisions about this war seem only to take into account the thoughts, ideas, comments of those from the US. what about what Iraqis want. if the cabbies i have met are any indication, we should leave Iraq to be Iraq and they will be happier and better off for it. perhaps we should get our lawmakers to start hailing cabs.

or perhaps i just really appreciate the different perspective on things.