OPINION:
U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East must come to grips with reality. There has been talk recently about withdrawing our troops from Afghanistan, but Americans must accept that if troops are withdrawn from the Middle East — whether Afghanistan, Iraq or Syria — al Qaeda and the Islamic State will rise up again and take over large parts of the region. They then will parlay that position into the orchestration of terrorist acts in the United States and other parts of western civilization. We cannot leave the Middle East without this happening. My prediction is we will leave troops in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria for the foreseeable future, even if it is as reduced numbers.
BOB JACK
North Las Vegas, Nev.
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