If we were to pull our troops from Iraq now do you believe Iraq is stable enough to thrive...?
536426
At this moment in time, no, I don't believe it's stable enough for a complete troop withdrawal.  The Iraqi government is not stable enough.
107463
When the mission is done, Iraq can defend its democratic state by itself, and we will not cause unrest and instability in the area by pulling out.\n\nAnd NOT a DAY sooner.
52360
Absolutely. It is getting better every day.  That's not to say there won't be work ahead. \n\nWe had a presence in Japan and Germany for decades after WWII.  \n\nThe US didn't just peacefully decide we wanted independence and draft a constitution over a beer one afternoon.\n\nIt will take work on our part and that of the Iraqis to get it where they want it to be. They are an independent state and we need to help them get on their feet then withdraw as much as possible while still ensuring stability in the region.\n\nThose that listen to the mainstream media only hear the bad news that makes good headlines. I encourage them to create informed opinions by talking to those that have been on the ground in Iraq, lived with the Iraqis, and helped out. You might also want to investigate other sources of news that's not as biased.
716270
"I have a plan"\n\ncyndie yes I can. stay untill the iraqi people can defend them selves and have established a govt that is sustainable for atleast the near future.  And anybody that is against that "kill them" its not easy but world politics and world safety is not easy.  and it is going to take time.  a stability in the middle east will start in the world effort for stability
691528
Troops - yes.\nWar - no.\nI support the troops, especially the national guard.\nThey had no choice, they were not provided with proper gear, there were not enough of them sent over initially and they are being asked to work harder and longer than ever.\nIn the early days leading up to the war, I believed the lies our administration told us about Iraq and I supported the invasion.\nToday, knowing what I know, I do NOT support our decision to invade Iraq.\nIt would be wrong to pull out now, but if the Republicans and President Bush in particular are even remotely as pro-life as they claim, they'll get our troops out ALIVE as soon as possible.
879747
Given that Bush has agreed to a speedy withdraw, I think its going to be a combo of Go Long and Home.\n\nHome -  a huge number of troops will finally come home.\nLong - I believe there will be US presence for a long time.  One is to help transition(there would be even more chaos w/o US forces).  Secondly, establish a US base like Okinawa, Frankfurt and many others around the world.\n\nI would've voted not to go there in the first place.  Since we're in this mess, I would have to vote for the Home (withdraw large numbers and keep some there until Iraq is able to manage things).
707275
I'd love to see our troops come home and they can , just as soon as your government can stand by itself .\nRight now , you have a lot of trouble because different factions want to rule the country . Some would be new dictatorships if they won .\nIf we pulled out , next week , you'd have a full blown civil war that would last for years . You could end up with someone a lot worse than Saddam .\nThe key is for all the people of Iraq to learn to live and work together as equals , not as Shia , Sunni and Kurds ,but as Iraqis .
809728
In a way, yes I do. \nI don't agree with people who say that the troops should be pulled out of Iraq. If we pull our troops out, then the terrorists will take over that country, and u can expect " a new Afghanistan under the Taliban regime". \n\nOur soldiers are doing their best to maintain order in Iraq.
2439
aandek amaan?  \n\nIt would not be safe to withdrawl now.  For Americans, and Iraqi civilians.\n\nOnce the Iraqi government is stable, we will leave.\nIraqi's must vote to show faith in the government.\n\nMaa as-salama, allah wiyakum.
853166
I agree with staying until Iraq and Afghanistan have solid governments and the factions have quit butchering each other to gain power. I don't know if enough Americans can stand the length of time that may be needed to get it done.
142565
Before the US can consider attacks on other countries, it would be smart to get out of the quagmire it has in Iraq. I used to believe the insurgents simply wanted us out of Iraq and that they would quit when we left.  I no longer believe that. I believe they are deliberately keeping us bogged down over there, and keeping us busy putting out fires, so that we can't leave.  We must feel some obligation to stay until we see at least one commencement ceremony from their new government.  That would allow a clean break and this will probably never happen.  It is now time for a serious exit strategy.  It is time to give Iraq a short term timetable.  It is time for our troops to come home, lick our wounds, and get ready for the next round, wherever that will be.  I seriously doubt that it will Pakistan as long as Musarreff is in charge. Iran, on the other hand, or Syria????
667910
If we really withdrew from Iraq, their current government would collapse and the insurgents along with their various backers would turn Iraq into one awful place.Let's forget about the oil and WMDS. Iraq albeit with Saddam Hussein at the helm boasted a Philamarnic orchestra, a very modern musuem; women were not always treated as second class citizens(They don't sit in the back seat of car behind their husbands like in Kuwait)was still a stable country.\nWhen I was there, most Iraqis were glad that we helped them remove Saddam and wanted a country where they could semblance of order, freedom to practise whatever variation of Islam they wanted, not having the Secret Police snatch their young daughters from off the street for sexual torture by Saddam's sons,etc.The Wahabbi sect of Islam in Saudi and various other entities in Iran, Syria and Chechnia don't want a stablized Iraq for they thrive on the violence there.We withdraw, it would be a slap in the face to my platoon members and the 2,000 plus service members,our Allies and the Iraqi soldiers and civilians who died trying to make Iraq a better place.This is a war and most Americans are gutless when it  comes to waging war whole heartedly. They want wars, sanitized with minmum loss and shove our Soldiers,Marines, Airmen, Sailors and Coast Guardsmen back into some dark corner. This isna war that will never go away and leaving Iraq won't make that happen.\nIt's very easy to get an airline ticket and fly here to the US despite what Homeland Security keeps saying how secure we are and conduct terrorist missions in the US.\nI say we stay and tough it out till its over.
335412
Thats a loaded question ;) \n\nI think that we now must stay and finish the reconstruction and occupation of Iraq to avoid a messy withdrawl that will lead to a power vacuum and civil war in the heart of the middle east. Regardless of how you feel about the war before hand, It's important to realize that a US defeat or withdrawl could have dramatic and long lasting negative effects on the US.\n\nThe Vietnam comparison doesn't hold too much water for two reasons, 1) The US withdrawl from South Vietnam was followed by the North overruning the South. This prevented a power struggle or civil war and was, ironically, able to provide some order to a chaotic situation. 2) A large component of the insurgency (An estimated 1/3 ) is now Al Qaeda, I'm not saying that they were there before I'm simply saying they are there now and are working to force an American withdrawl. They even boast about this on propoganda tapes. They are, unlike the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army, an organization that is actively at war with the United States (was before the war in Iraq and will be after) and would like nothing better then to send a middle eastern nation into chaos so they can use it as a place to retrain, refurbish and catch their breath after losing a similiar base in Afghanistan that they had before the Taliban lost power.\n\nI personally think we need to establish a table for leaving Iraq based not on chronological deadlines (a poor plan that is inviting disaster the moment the deadline passes and US Troops leave) but instead on tangible results. Like for every 3 Iraqi Army Battalions to reach full operational ability we should withdrawl 1 US Battalion. \n\nThis avoids the dilemna of just saying "lets stay until we're through" which opens the door to a endless occupation but also makes success in Iraq a tangible thing that can be monitored and achieved in due time.
377765
i was in iraq and i know it is better now. i have talked with hundreds of iraq's and they are much better off now. the only iraq's unhappy are the ones that have lost power and money because saddam is gone. It is better now, even though it may seem bad on tv, before with saddam things were much worse.
756233
Iraq has a stable gov't and a 300,000 man army. And the vast majority of Iraqis don't want us there.\n\nThe Iraqi gov't is still a puppet of the USA. Until the Iraqis take control of their own destiny's....we will be there for quite a while.
838125
YES, pulling out of Iraq now would be tantamount to the US Government pulling out of South Vietnam in 1975 and letting the Communist North Vietnamese coming across the border and killing 2 million South Vietnamese who had either worked for us or help us in the war and the \nPol Pot regime who killed another 2 to 4 million Cambodians.You are not wrong. What would happen \nwould be a signal to the Islamo-fascist terrorists that this country is ripe for a take over by them. We CANNOT LET THAT HAPPEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
644902
I would pull the troops out. I feel as long as we're out there getting killed in war the terrorists are winning. War soves none of this problem.