How many more years will our troops be in Iraq?

[kentuck]

Peace does not appear to be around the corner. Regardless of which Party wins the next election, my prediction is that we will still have troops dying in Iraq 4 years from now. We are not going to be less hated. We will be targeted so long as we are in that country. Democrats may have a partial withdrawal but they also, will keep a substantial number of troops in Iraq for the foreseeable future. We will be there long enough to see 5000 casualties. I am not optimistic.

[StraightDope]

1. Too many... n/t

[civildisoBDence]

2. It's not how many years we'll be in Iraq,

it's how many decades. We're still in Korea, and the liklihood is that Iraq will be split into three parts, which will then require our continued presence along a "demilitarized" zone.

By demilitarized, of course, we mean completely and utterly militarized.

Satire as thick as a president's skull

[yourout]

3. We will be in there till a Dem sits in the White House.

And not a minute sooner.

[Mr Rabble]

4. Never leaving. Sorrows of Empire.

Get used to having troops in Iraq for the rest of our lifetimes. We are still in Korea. We are still in Okinawa.

[TomInTib]

5. No end in sight. Even if a Dem is is elected PotUS, we will be there

The Dems would be terrified of taking the hit for the resulting anarchy.

But that is assuming that Iraq won't be engulfed in flames before the '08 elections.

Wait, I am not making sense - Iraq is already totally fucked.

That having been said, we are in for the long haul. Just wait and see.

[mmonk]

6. I thought the idea was permanent bases, wasn't it?

[PurityOfEssence]

7. Until the oil is gone or Israel is unassailable

How difficult is this to understand?

[Disturbed]

8. US troops and Mercs will be in Iraq for at least 50 years.

The number may be around 50K to gaurd the oil fields and Embassy.