The implications of an American withdrawal of forces from Iraq are catastrophic--and not just for Iraq. Even so, calls for an immediate withdrawal have entered the mainstream, and most Democrats polled now believe the war never should have been fought.

Let's be clear what not fighting the war, or cutting and running, would mean: Not fighting would have meant Saddam Hussein still in power. It would have meant years of defiance of United Nations resolutions. It would have meant death to tens of thousands more Iraqis.

A precipitous American exit from Iraq would signal to the world that America won't finish its battles, can't stomach a fight and won't persevere in the face of opposition. It would signal that terrorism is indeed an effective tool in the hands of Islamic extremists. And it would mean the betrayal of dreams of liberty for Iraqis and others yearning for freedom.

There are some in America today who believe that liberty in Iraq isn't worth fighting for and certainly not if it takes more than a year. There are others who believe that no fight is worth it if it means America will fight alone, without the support of the United Nations. If they are right, then we should withdraw from Iraq. Let's stay at home and wait for the fight to come to us. And come it will.

Danielle Pletka is the vice president for foreign and defense policy studies at AEI.