Kyl stays the course

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- Leaving Iraq prematurely would result in ethnic cleansing that leave "blood on our hands, in effect," U.S. Sen. John Kyl, R-Ariz., said Sunday.

Advocating the United States needs to stay the course militarily in Iraq, Kyl said on CBS' "Face the Nation" "responsible" foreign policy and military analysts agree pulling out of Iraq too soon "would have severe national security consequences."

"Start with Iran -- leaving a vacuum in Iraq for Iran to fill would have disastrous consequences for us," he said. "The genocide and ethnic cleansing that would probably occur if the Iraqi forces are not able to keep peace and stability there would be blood on our hands, in effect. We went in there and bought it."

Kyl also said it is realistic to expect to see U.S. troops in Iraq several decades from now, much as we maintain forces in Europe and Asia.

"Why wouldn't we want a long-term relationship with an ally in that region?" Kyl asked. "But we're not going to have huge numbers of troops there in the long run but, you know, 60 years after World War II we still have troops in Germany, and we have troops in Korea."