College Republican Federation of Virginia

Angelina Jolie, UN Goodwill Ambassador and movie star (as if you needed reminding) has written an article, published in today’s Washington Post, that says that the US needs to stay in Iraq. Yes you read that correctly, Angelina Jolie says we should stay in Iraq. Finally, someone in Hollywood is seeing the Iraq issue clearly.

Jolie, echoing John McCain and others, wisely points out that a US withdrawal would have disastrous security and humanitarian consequences and would benefit no one, not even Democrats. Now, I am not saying that she should be believed because of her celebrity. While I personally would do almost anything she asked of me (what man wouldn’t), her arguments should be judged on the facts, and the facts prove her right.

Violence is down, both sectarian violence and violence against US forces. The Iraqi Parliament has decided it doesn’t like irrelevancy and has passed key legislation aimed at reconciliation. In particular, it recently passed amnesty legislation that would right many of the wrongs of Paul Bremer’s de-Baathification program, a key motivator of the home-grown elements of the insurgency.

We should all applaud Ms. Jolie’s clear-headed thinking on this issue. Her courage and honesty in speaking out against withdrawal puts her in the minority among the Hollywood Left. And let me just say Angelina, if this does kill you movie career, you can always stay with me.