Many people want a withdrawal of US troops in Iraq. Don't you think this is unwise-create huge instability?
536629
Of course I'd like to bring them home.  But we committed ourselves (and a lot of strategic mistakes were made, like going in with too few troops and not recruiting the existing military).  We can't leave now if we want to see the area stablize, but we DO need to change our strategy.  Like Senator McCain says, raids are not working, we need to go into a town and hold it, then move to the next town, leaving forces behind to keep the insurgents from coming back.  \nHOOAH! Go Army!
1123470
No.  we can't just pull out of Iraq before its own government is stable.  Then it would be another Vietnam.  If we just pick up and leave, the country will turn into a police state, much like Somalia did during the Clinton administration.
1071851
i think its a difficult issue. i think that we are in the war for the wrong reasons, but i think the war is necessary. the us being on a different continent than most major wars has always been torn between getting involved and isolationism. we dont always make the right call. i think that the people in iraq and the surrounding regions needed help. needed military assistance. not to make way for democracy or any of that crap. but because of massive human rights violations. thats not why we got into the war of course, but its certainly a beneficial side effect. the us didnt get into WWII to liberate the concentration camps, and stop the slaughter of innocent people all over europe, but again, a positive side effect. so maybe it doesnt matter what reason we go in for, as long as the right thing gets done. the civilian casualties are appalling. but they are mostly due to the iraqi insurgency. of course the iraqi insurgency would not have happened if we hadnt gotten involved, because their aims were being accomplished by saddam hussein. and they'll be there when we leave. i dont know that the middle east is actually a good place for democracy. they evolved differently than america and europe. they may require a different form of government. in the end i dont care. the people will decide, and it will be bloody and violent, as it always is. most really important decisions are. but i think its probably time we got out. but as long as we helped people who needed it, maybe its not such a bad thing we got involved. and before you ask, yes i believe that our next stop should be darfour, and the other places in africa where appalling genocide is taking place. it seems we cant win. some countries tell us to mind our own business. others ask us where the hell we were when they were in trouble. like i said. its complex. i dont think theres a right answer.
215875
insurgents wont put their guns down that easily. if US gets out of iraq there is a fair chance they will lay down arms and negotiate for power with their new governmnt.
934649
Thats quite an interesting article, thank you for putting it up, and i agree with ecerything the generals say, but do you not think there is larger issues here? The ineffectiveness of the iraqi govt, caused by the clash of ethnic groups but also by the duality of relying on US troops while also trying to distance themselves from US policies, and other issues like this? I respect what the generals say but are they not purely looking at this from a military and practical perspective? Killing every terrorist and insurgent will not finish this war, because its impossible...hmm i cant see an alternative way of getting out of this situation but i also refuse to believe that its as simple a solution as issuing killing orders...tho that would be a step forward i admit
964130
We should begin a phased withdrawal of the troops. The Iraqi government has had plenty of time to establish defenses and security for its people. By the bulk of the military operations in Iraq being conducted by Americans soldiers, it provides a crutch for Iraqi commanders and a lightning rod against America for Iraqi citizens. When this country was founded, French troops did not lead American forces in its defense after the revolutionary war, they took off as soon as the surrender was signed by Cornwallis. If the Iraqi government wishes to remain in power, it find a way to do so of its own accord. The military should maintain a few military bases for logistical support, similar to what happened in Germany after WW2, but that is all.
751527
Arcane are you  crazy?  Their are a lot more modernized middle eastern countries that Iraq.  I have been to a couple different countries and I saw nothing that even Iraq.  You need to know what you are talking about before you start saying stuff like that.  One other thing I want to tell you about.  If the Iraqis didn't want us there all they had to do is run us out,  but they are going through what we did  in our civil war, Losing life's, homes, family and what not they know that it is a necessary evil but most of them are ready for a change.  There have been more business open up in the last year than any other year in their history.  Soon as they can show that their military is able and willing we will be out but no sooner.  It would be a disgrace to the US and its people if we left now and let total hell rain down upon them.
385204
Even if we pull our combat troops out today, the Iraqui military is still going to need logistical support for a long time. American troops will be there for at least a decade.
566409
because the country isn't stable.  When the Iraqi government and military are able to sufficiently rule and control the country, then the US military will leave.
46735
The truth is if we can get our troops out of iraq you will see more people sign up. To most people right now it's like signing up for a game of russian rollette. Would you like to be the first one to put a gun to your head with a loaded chamber and pull the trigger. I think not. Till people know they don't have a risk of dieing because there most probley going to be shipped off to iraq your not going to see your recruitment numbers go up. The answer is support the troops but BRING THEM HOME!
1055753
This is the beginning of the drawdown. It will take a few years at least. Unlike Vietnam, we have never increased our numbers of troops in-country. We have made enormous strides but we need more Iraqis trained as soldiers and police before we can beging a major pull-out.
59684
No, we are not losing the war. We won't win the hearts and minds of all iraqi's and there will still be problems, but we've removed a genocidal dictator, taken the first steps in liberating Iraq, witnessed elections, played key roles in rebuilding the country's infrastructure, partnered with 27 other nations, and we're doing the right thing. I agree we should pull most of our troops out when it makes sense, but now is not that time.
1029399
its definitely time but there's a problem...Iraq is in a state of chaos that is worse now than ever...militant groups have gained supporters and are fighting stronger than ever...the u.s. went in there and tore Iraq apart...we currently are doing more damage than good, as most of the funds that are suppose to be going toward rebuilding the towns and home of citizens are being used to supply our troops with food and more ammunition...the government is established and is capable of running itself, and Iraq now has its own police force and armed forces....we should pull out and let the country begin to run itself...
1038941
I recently received an email from a friend in Iraq who said that it's a completely different atmosphere where "70% of people want us here and know we need to be here, 5% don't want us here (the insurgents), and 20% are rich enough they don't have to care.  The US is crying for us to leave and push the Iraqi's to "run" when they're hardly able to crawl on their own..."\n\nI think regardless of elections, etc we need to be there at least another 3 years.  \n\nHow long do I THINK we'll be there?  I dunno, the "War" in Iraq is technically over, but the "War on Terrorism" should never cease...
1059070
The U.S. is sort of in a bind in that it can't really win (the way we originally thought a win should look like) and we can't really leave (and have it look like we made mistake), so instead we'll phase out our troop levels over a period of years (10?) and continue to reassure the public that the Iraq government is able to handle things themselves and we're no longer needed, and it's anyone's guess how we'll explain the ongoing vioence.  How sad though for the families of fallen soldiers who may not see the ultimate worth in their sacrifices.
726502
We could pull out and let them dip into a civil war, or stay there and let our troops endure the war.  We should not have gone there in the first place, and if we felt we had no choice, we shouldn't have bombed them back to the stone age.\n\nAny way you look at it, the Iraqi's lose.
1183877
That's a pretty big assumption you have there erudite... It is my opinion that the USA IS NOT going to leave Iraq in shame, as long as the democrats don't get their way.  I am in no way a republican, but I recognize the folly of leaving Iraq before they have a stable government that is able to police itself, and I think most of those who make the decisions do too.  I don't like Bush at all, I think he is a babbling monkey puppet, but I applaud his steadfastness to stay there despite all the criticism and low poll ratings he has recieved.