Angelina Jolie: U.S. has a moral obligation to Stay In Iraq

After recently visiting Iraq in her new role as a “goodwill ambassador” for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie says the U.S. has a moral obligation to stay in Iraq .

Here is part of what she wrote from a well-written Washington Post op-ed piece:

“…My visit left me even more deeply convinced that we not only have a moral obligation to help displaced Iraqi families, but also a serious, long-term, national security interest in ending this crisis…

Today's humanitarian crises in Iraq --and the potential consequences for our national security--are great. Can the United States afford to gamble that 4 million or more poor and displaced people, in the heart of Middle East , won't explode in violent desperation, sending the whole region into further disorder? . . .

As for the question of whether the surge is working, I can only state what I witnessed: U.N. staff and those of non-governmental organizations seem to feel they have the right set of circumstances to attempt to scale up their programs. And when I asked the troops if they wanted to go home as soon as possible, they said that they miss home but feel invested in Iraq . They have lost many friends and want to be a part of the humanitarian progress they now feel is possible.

It seems to me that now is the moment to address the humanitarian side of this situation. Without the right support, we could miss an opportunity to do some of the good we always stated we intended to do.

Of course I don’t agree with everything she writes here, as I am not a fan of UN involvement, but I will admit, I am impressed with a well thought out argument from a Hollywood starlet. Especially, when what we usually get from Tinsel town is anti-war blanket statements with no substance.

It seems to me that this should be the Democrats plan or solution for Iraq other than a cut and run defeat, but Jolie’s plan is quite contrast with the attitude of Democrat presidential hopefuls Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton though.

Both Clinton and Obama want to remove troops from the region. In fact, front-runner Obama said last summer even preventing genocide was not a sufficient reason for a continuing presence in Iraq , and Clinton claims no link between Iraq and national security.

Score one up for Jolie who is able to recognize our moral obligation and national security risks in Iraq . Something the entire Democrat Party has not been able to see as they are poised to nominate Barack Obama.