If as General Petraeus said he doesn't know if this war in Iraq is making America safer why are we there?

Question

No Doc I asked a question to get answers. What are we still doing there? If you have some reasons let me know.

Answer 1

The answer I gave someone else earlier this week... I hope this helps.

Just over two weeks ago, Iran announced that it is ready to take over the void ("vacuum") left in Iraqi leadership when the U.S. pulls out. Iran has mismanaged their oil supply to the point that while sitting atop the world's third largest deposit, they find it necessary to IMPORT rather than export.
As much as a lot of people hated Reagan, you have to admit that his advisors made it clear to him that the world's economy runs on oil. This explains why he reflagged all of those foreign oil tankers passing through the region and provided them with armed escort (read: U.S. Navy) for safe passage.
Iran is not at all friendly towards the west and hates the U.S. with a passion -- with just cause (Eisenhower/Nixon's CIA overthrow back in the 1950s to install the Shaw to the Peacock throan).
Until you can convince the U.N. to (without corruption) do the job they should have been doing all along (preDesert Storm thru to present), someone (ANYONE!) needs to protect the world's economy from a country that exports terrorism and is admittedly ready to "fill the vauum."

Answer 2

We're there to fight against people who are sworn enemies of America. The quote by Petraeus is taken out of context, it's not within his purview to comment on that issue.

Answer 3

Well, why would Al Qaeda risk an attack on the US mainland when they are doing fine killing Americans in Iraq?

Answer 4

Apparently to give the terrorist training camps live targets to shoot at.

Answer 5

better to fight em thar than here.