How long is it going to really take? Was it not suppose to be a 101 day war?
550355
War is always dangerous and unpredictable.  It cannot be done in a clinical sanitized way.  Oh sure we're getting better at it all the time but war is always messy and hard to control even with all our techno gadgets.\n\nThe problem isn't that we were mislead about the exact duration of this specific war, the problem is that we are constantly being misled about the nature of war in general.  (ie - it is foolish to strongly believe any predictions about war)\n\nWar is not a reality game show, though it is often packaged like one.  Its a serious business with very real consequences for both sides no matter who is declared the victor.  \n\nActually in war nobody wins and I think that most military minds know that at some level but aren't prepared to let the general public know.  The absolute best we can hope for is to create a situation where things don't get worse.  (ie war can never make things better it can only limit further damage, sometimes)\n\nIts too late and pointless to debate if we should have been there to begin with.  The exit strategy?  Well, only someone who really knows what is going on can make that call and its not me.  \n\nDoes anybody really know what is going on there?
962739
47 days to get out that work for everybody?  Move troops across Jordan and into southern Israel for future needs.  Still allow our good solidiers to earn some hazard tax free pay!!
415651
There is an elite world-wide organization that is planning the destruction of up to 2/3 of the population to make the remaining 1/3 easier to control (Avian Flu? Super Volcano? WW-III in the Mid-East? take yer pick), and reshape the world into one governed body with them at the top. I never really believed this until it became too obvious to deny. Major policy changes all over the globe make no rational since unless you enter this concept into the situations. We can only hope that they will fight amongst themselves and destroy each other without killing the whole Planet. Or so I believe.
410882
You can't put a timeline on something like that, it would have to be ongoing, not to mention immigrants still sneaking in the country.  I could literally see a new federal agency heading this project for as long as the country is in existence.
180248
Please notice that it is Iraq with Q not K.\nI am sure that this war will be finished as soon as things get setteled.\nThere's one more thing, personally I don't consider it as war against Iraq, it is war against terrorism, which is a part of the battle for freedom and democracy.
869199
No predictions here. It is obvious. The answer is yes tomorrow they will meet and no nothing will come of it.  That place is in a mess and people are getting either killed by the thousands or leaving in droves by the thousand.  The only people left there soon will be the ones too poor to afford to move anywhere else. No one wants to admit the obvious it is a "CIVIL WAR". I've been in one to know one.
553229
I don't know anything about the Bible code 1 or 2, unless you're talking about the Da Vinci Code thing, which is fiction.  WW3 will begin in the Euphrates River, which is in Iraq where a lot of American troops are. Also, the Euphrates River will be dried up to prepare the way for the east to invade Israel.January 13,1990, the Indianapolis Star has an article about Turkey cutting off the flow of the Euphrates for one month. A concrete plug for a diversion channel was built, so Turkey now has the ability to dry up the Euphrates whenever they choose. This is a 1,900 year old prophecy that has only recently been able to be fulfilled.\n   Also a 200 million man army will launch a war that will kill one third of mankind. Only 3 nations now have the ability to raise that kind of manpower, it is likely to be China. Mao Tse Tung boasted in his diary that he could raise an army of 200 million.\n    There will be a worldwide numbering system, it looks like in America it's going to start out with the real i.d. act. We won't be able to buy or sell unless we are a part of it. (the worldwide numbering system)\n     We are going to have one world government ( the United Nations?).\n     We will also have so much turmoil over all the religions not getting along that the one world gov. will decide that we need to agree that all religions will need to tolerate others, so they will come up with a religious authority figure that says we all need to forget or give up what we believe and go with what he says we should believe.\n     Also, read Matthew 24, King James Version\n     There's more, but I'm afraid you're going to think I talk too much!
960659
AH HA!!!!! I've been talking about the Bosnia troops now for a while! I was actually beginning to think that they did come home! Sure! Clinton promised that they'd come home next week, a month from Thursday, OK, six months for sure......AND THEY'RE STILL THERE!!!! What's it been? Ten years? (Don't get me started on how he treated the guys in Somalia.)
378843
It never was a war, it is an invasion and an occupation. Like so many other places that have been marched into and the people's lives destroyed. Does no one care? Thinking of the ordinary people, adults and children. The old, the sick, like you and I makes me either want to weep or cry out in rage! Please, oh please never again.
1066850
Exactly...this is another Vietnam...it might not be the same scale casualty wise (at least American casulaties. Iraqi deaths are right up there). It's ridiculous. We never should have been there. I don't think it's the military's fault that there isn't progress...I'm sure they're doing what they can but there is only so much you can do before you realize that things aren't going to get any better. Insurgents are nasty and they'll stop at nothing to kill someone. This war is going to be going on for a long time unless something changes and unfortunately we have to wait a couple more years before those changes can begin. We destroyed a country now we're going to have to pay for it ....probably for the rest of our lives. It's a sad situation with no real end. You still have people out there saying that it was good that we went in...we got Saddam...we didn't go in to get Saddam. We went in to get weapons and the only ones we've found are the ones we sold them years ago to fight Iran. Interesting how that works out isn't it?
960947
I say in about 18 months. But we will cut and run. It's just a matter of time. Boy!! What a sight that will be. I was around when we ran from Vietnam. On that day the warmongers did cry. Watch the warmongers cry when we lose Iraq. Bush will cry the loudest.
370806
I don't need 3 or 4 pages. What distinguishes World War One from all previous conflicts was that it was what we call a "Total War". That meant that not only were ALL citizens from the belligerent countries fair game for destruction, but all citizens were expected to contribute to the way effort in any way they could. There were no rules of gentlemanly conduct and no limits to what either side could do. It was a contest between the maximum force of one side, and the maximum force of the other side, hence, Total War.
859588
Who the hell knows, but we do need to do something.  This war is not working out the way we expected.  We have spent 1/2 trillion and we are making enemies faster than we can kill them.
1109914
yah... its in way better condition than when the US started coming in... and although its not in the best condition now... its getting better... but what do you expect... the whole contry to be stable in a few months... keep in mind that the war in iraq was the fasted war *ever* fought in the history of the world... so why are you so impatient... if it takes more that 5 years to finnish up in iraq... than you can complain...
1113773
The odds are, you won't get hit in the stop loss.  But there is a chance.  I've never heard of anyone getting stuck in for more than a year past their EAS--End of Active Service, but I suppose it's theoretically possible to be required to serve the full eight.  They do try to work with people though.  They know that you only expected to serve the original contract and to hold a large number of people in service past that will create a lot of discontent and morale problems, so they try to keep it as short a time as possible.  Right now there is no stop loss in effect and odds are not for one to be started.  The US is trying to reduce the number of troops in war zones, so it is unlikely they will need to force people to stay beyond their original contract.
916575
Sun Tzu said in "The Art of War" in 500 BC that engaging in a protracted campaign on foreign soil would eventually lead to failure.  I think that the problem has been a lack of planning and a lack of definition regarding our strategic goals.  I think that we entered this conflict for the wrong reasons, without a plan, and without measurable goals. Then, we tried to create a plan and strategic objectives on the fly. This is a national embarrassment of monumental proportions, and an act that will change the course of history against the United States. I only hope that somthing can be salvaged from this debacle, but it will take a level of cooperation and compromise that seems unlikely until bush leaves office.
567147
normally, not that long actually. just watch "the making of" and you will know.