Serious question: What do we do about Iraq in 2006???

[jackbourassa]

I have a bad feeling about the Democratic leaders in Washington. Iraq is spiralling out of control and we could seize this issue and turn it into a winning issue that sweeps us into power if not for one thing: the Washington Democrats. Who, I believe, supported the war because they thought it would be a rah-rah fest and didn't want to be left behind. Now they are stuck with the war, because to oppose it now would make them all look like idiots.

Good reason to kill off soldiers, huh?

But here's the thing, the US national Guard was never designed to send soldiers off to war for 5 or 6 years. We are thus making ourselves weaker at home. But there are not enough troops to stay in Iraq without them. The war is costing us $80 billion per year. Other states (Iran and China) are growing stronger as we grow weaker.

But my opinion is that we need to move ahead with a timetable for withdrawl. Here's why:

- THE WAR IS OVER. The army has a limited function. It fights and wins wars. We sent them in to defeat the Iraqi Army. They defeated the Iraqi Army. We kept them in to find Saddam. They found Saddam. We currently keep them in to make sure there are elections. Well, the elections are going on. The problem is that you have all these "genius'" in Washington with all these high-minded theories and a bunch of chickenshit Democrats. Iraq, like other similar countries, had a tyrant in place for a reason. Because without the tyrant the country would decend into civil war. They are made up of Suni, Shi'a and Kurds - it is up to them to make peace with each other. Not us. There will be civil war, if they want civil war. Whether we're there or not, makes no difference.

It is not our fault that the Bush Administration and the Washington Democrats had no political strategy when they went to war in the first place. Because their theories didn't pan out, doesn't mean that the United States should be stuck fighting a war with no end. It has no end, not because Iraq is stronger. But because, we still have no political strategy. Even if we accepted John McCain's and Hillary Clinton's plan to "increase" the number of US troops. What good would that do? Would the Kurds, Shi'a's and Suni's hate each other any less? Would the terrorists flee Iraq? The Israeli's have occupied the West Bank and Gaza for 40+ years and they still haven't got rid of Hamas.

So here's my plan:

Stay until the elections are held. Once the final election is held, start withdrawing troops. With the whole country free of American involvement by 2008.

What do you guys think?

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[YDogg]

3. I'm not so sure.

I think if "insurgents/freedom fighters/whatever" are desperate enough, they'll try to kill anoyone who does not share their ideals. UN or US. But I still wish we'd get the hell out.

[YDogg]

2. I'm pessimistic about the Democratic leaders.

Not that I like the republicans ... they do not represent what I hold dear. But the Dems aren't much better.

I think we ought to get the hell out of Iraq. Now.

On a related topic, I'm afraid for the future of the National Guard. Who the hell is going to sign up for this kind of service?

[BlueJac]

4. For some reason the Dem leadership does not lead.....

They can't seem to make a stand or take advantage of the Iraq situation. Most don't want to change their stance from once supporting the war to wanting to end it, and I just don't get it. The time is ripe for someone to stand up and make the difference all liberals have been waiting for.

[noahmijo]

5. What makes you think Democrats supported the war?

I DARE you to say "because they voted for it" please don't tell me you've bought into that right wing talking point....

[jackbourassa]

7. Well then, if they're not for the war

Why don't they advocate getting the hell out. Either now or in a phased timetable?

[teryang]

6. Americans learn about war in the movies

We'll bomb them off the earth and mow them down. (We'll call it preceision bombing) Who can oppose us? War is lot more complicated than that. War is about politics.

But because the average numbskull can't understand that the most advanced weapons can't win when the politics are against you, each generation has to find out again the hard way.

Those who profit from the apparent blunders which are deliberately undertaken with malice and greed aforethought really don't care. They know they are above the law.

Policy for 2006: GET OUT NOW. Are we better off today than we were six years ago?

[mikelewis]

8. Start drafting Republicans...

I'm sure the problem will work itself out real fast. You voted for it, now go fight it...