The mess around Iraq makes me wonder if anyone in this administration reads history.

After WWI many Europeans were at each other’s throats. They shifted borders, stole land from each other. Various factions caused havoc. They carved and re-carved countries. They created a cauldron of unrest. That unrest and instability brought us WWII.

After WWII the same could have happened in Europe. We stopped it from happening. By leaving troops there. The presence of our troops kept bad guys from destroying the peace.

There were factions. There were guerillas. There were religious fanatics. There were rabid former Nazis. But they did little damage. Because they did not want to have to mess with American troops. We have gradually drawn down our forces there. But to this day we have 30,000.

Without doubt our presence created safety and stability in Europe. Those conditions allowed prosperity and constructive governments.

After WWII we occupied Japan with troops. We pretty much wrote their constitution. (Japanese are totally bound by tradition, critics cried. They will never accept democracy. Right.)

Japan had many idiots who wanted more war. And factions that yearned to destroy democracy. But they did little damage. Because they did not want to have to mess with American troops. We still have 50,000 troops there. Our Pacific Fleet is based there. A Marine force is based there. Our Air Force stations 130 fighter jets there.