Timetable for Iraq pullout

[LionPride]

[quote="once a runner";p="139478"]To imply that we are about to enter the playoffs of this war is to say that the war is almost over....we've almost won. I think Bush declared the war over long ago (Mission Accomplished) and Cheney said that the insurgency was in its last throes at least a couple of years ago. So forgive me if I'm skeptical about anyone implying that this thing is even close to being over. It will drag on for many years to come, with us or without us.

Just one question....what are we trying to "win"? I hear that all time, but nobody ever defines winning. Are we trying to make sure Iraq is democracy just like us? With 3 sides very far apart religiously and politically, that hardly seems viable. Are we going to settle for a stable middle east? When has the middle east ever been stable? Or perhaps we're trying to win the rights to the oil? I'm sure someone can let me know what the goal is.[/quote]

Funny you should ask what we are trying to win. I was just trying to think what the Democrats mean when they keep saying a "new strategy". I guess when they say "new strategy", they mean cut and run. It's the only strategy most Democrats can stomach, and it's the only "plan" they ever give when they talk about this "new strategy".

And by the way, early on weren't some of you saying we need more troops to get the job done. Well, now that they are being asked for, it won't work?

Oh yeah, as for what we're trying to win. I think this has been spelled out many times by the President. A safe, democratic Iraq, which will help lead towards a more stable Middle East.

[The Ancient Enemy]

Has anyone seen the current condition of the buildings we restored for the Iraqi people? It's like a great man once said (me, right now) "you can give some wanksters a clean bathroom, but you can't expect them to use a mop once in awhile I guess."

A long time ago Douglas MacArthur had the foresight to say that we should push all the way up through Asia and wipe them all out at once, and get this over with. China has so much to do with this Iraq fiasco, and we've basically backed ourselves into this corner. Don't you love how our former politicians gave us this world to live in? Nothing like jacking up the credit card bills and saying "hey, if I die, my kid will pay it off."

[once a runner]

It's all very nice to say "a democratic, stable Iraq". It makes for a great sound bite, only trouble is that Iraq has so many factions fighting, it's going to take a very, very long time to sort it out. First problem is how you get the Sunni's and Shiites to agree on political power. Then there is the matter of splitting up the oil revenue. Let's not forget that this is the middle east. How much stability has this region seen in it's history? Using force to gain stability in this region just isn't going to happen.

Yes, you can phrase it 'cut and run' just all the other right wing pundits. There is a time to realize that the road you are traveling is the wrong one. Do you keep traveling the wrong way? Are you gutless schmuck if you decide to turn around to get back on the right road? I believe one of the definitions of insanity is to do the same things over and over again and expect different results. The war has now lasted over 4 years and the only thing that ever changed was to send in more troops well after the time when they were needed the most. 104 dead soldiers in April. Things are really changing.

And now the Iraqi Parliament plans to take a 2 month vacation this summer!! Does that sound like a country that really appreciates the help of our armed services? Soldiers are dying for their freedom and their politicians take a 2 month break instead of trying to end this? These people need to learn to stand up for themselves now. They've been trained, given money and weapons. Our job is done there...it's up to them.

Gunner, it's nice to label this a humanitarian mission, but if the Iraqi people deserve a life of freedom, then don't the citizens of Darfur deserve the same? What has our country done to free them from the threat of daily violence? Of course they don't have any big oil reserves there. Our government wouldn't give a rat's behind about the Iraqi people if it weren't for the oil.

[Gunner18]

I'm going to have to claim ignorance on the whole Darfur situation (whereever the hades darfur even is!). But the whole thing about doing the same thing over and over again with the same result, what kind of grass are you smoking and where can I get some? Having democratic elections for the first time is a similar result,? executing one of the most foul and inhumane tyrants to ever live is a similar result? over 136 Taliban fighters killed this week in a span of 3 days is a similar result? Yes, I admit, seeing the coalition death toll rise daily does bother me. But at the same time there are good things happening there daily that have never happened before. Take women for instance, they've recieved more rights in 4 years than they had for 4 millenium!

I don't 100% agree with the "war", but I do agree 100% that we should stay until we get things right. Like I stated before, we would be dishonoring those that have sacrificed if we pull out before the dust is settled. Lets honor those troops by ensuring that they didn't die for nothing (eerily remembrance of Vietnam). Lets give the gold-star mothers something that will give them closure by lettting them know that their son's or daughter's death was for a great cause. Let's let the little kids that will grow up without a father or a mother have something to be proud of for the rest of their lives. WWI and WWII vets had closure and they were celebrated as heroes. Korea and Vietnam vets are slowly coming around, but far too late. We cannot let our current generation of Marines, Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen to be "forgotten" like we have in the past. and the best way to do that is to let us finish our job over there and get closure.

[Lemmy]

Happy Mission Accomplished Day! Has it really been four years ago the President Bush landed on the Aircraft Carrier with the Mission Accomplished banner. Wonder if the banner can be used again?

[The Ancient Enemy]

The war was a complete success, so why not? If by "success" he really meant "made things 70 times more unstable", then we have done a remarkable job. All we need to do now is use Sharpies to write numbers on Iraqi necks, and also build a wall around neighborhoods. Oh, wait, stupid me, they already did that!

[The Ancient Enemy]

Judging by the state of Iraq right now, are we sure that Pitt defensive coordinator Paul Rhodes is not in charge of running this war?

[El-Moldo]

Are YOU sure that Penn State THUGS aren't working for Al-Qaeda? You know, causing trouble.

[The Ancient Enemy]

Anthony Scirrotto would put a beatin' on Osama bin Laden.

[Bd4dBeckham]

its hard to say what the mission is in the middle east, "the war against terrorism" sounds good but what is it really? is it an excuse to go over and try and set up what we want, i agree that something had to be done after 9/11 to put a message out that were not just going to sit back and take that kinda stuff, but to pretty much start another vietnam is a little out of wack in my mind. its a lose lose, stay in and lose American lives, pull out and the whole world points fingers saying the U.S. went in and played world police until they got tired of it and got out. not to mention the morals that are involved. the whole situation is really messed up.

also, this whole Bush is a moron thing, put yourself in his shoes, 9/11 comes around(a presidents nightmare) and the U.S. is crying out for him to go out and get these guys, so he does. now a couple years later the people change their mind and blame him for everything, i dont think its quite fair