But regardless of Bush's military incompetence, we're there and you simply can't turn around to leave. That's especially true when you consider the strategic importance of the Straits of Hormuz to the global petroleum markets. We cannot afford turmoil in that region. We also need to capitalize on the fact that we have a working relationship (albeit not ideal) with a nation that is not only strategically important because of geography, but sits atop almost thirty-percent of the world's know oil reserves. The idea of forward deployment has been a cornerstone of our national defense policy since 1945 because it has worked. Instead of running from Iraq, we need to explore the feasibility of permanent bases, just as we built in Korea, Japan, and Europe to ring the Soviet Empire. The problem is now Iran, and if World War III is going to break out, it's better to fight it over there than here.