When the US abandoned the strategic goal of "bringing democracy to the Middle East" the raison d'etre for large ground forces in the region ceased to exist or changed. What is the new reason to stay engaged?That's really what Congress must decide, if they've given it any thought.
Frank Capra made a 7 part series in WW2 entitled "Why We Fight". You couldn't make such a documentary today because who knows? All the responses revolve around illegality, provocativeness, or signaling. But no strategic goal.
Cause if we're not going to bring democracy to the Middle East and accept it will always be a stew of toxic hatreds then we ought to be as little dependent on it as possible. If we never see ISIS or Qods again it will be too soon.
