Are you pessimistic on Iraq?

[Philosoraptor]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/iraq_usa_poll_dc

Bush is focusing this week on how to change strategy in Iraq and was expected to announce a shift in course next week.

Three out of four of those polled said they supported the three major recommendations made by the Iraq Study Group: direct talks with Iran and Syria, withdrawing most U.S. combat troops by March 2008, and a new push aimed at resolving the Israel-Palestinian conflict, USA Today reported.

Bush has rejected the troop withdrawal timetable and direct talks with Iran and Syria. He has not ruled out a regional conference involving Iran and Syria, but the White House indicated Iraq would have to set it up.

In a question asked of a half-sample, a record high 62 percent said the war in Iraq wasn't "worth it," and a record low 16 percent said the United States was winning, USA Today said. That is less than half the 40 percent who held that view a year ago, the newspaper said.

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Are you a pessimistic American in regard to bushs' war? I certainly am, I see no end in sight, and the only reason I can see for that is our seeming lack of concern and our total non response to blatant tyranny.

Yes, I'm pessimistic that bush will not budge and will take this all the way to the brink and beyond. I'm of the pessimistic opinion that we ain't seen NOTHIN' yet.

[KarenS]

1. I'm not "just" pessimistic,,,

I am beyond furious, since the drumbeat for this war started.

I do not think he will withdraw our troops until he absolutely has to and I'm not sure what will put him in that position.

[maine_raptor]

2. Bush was right

when he said the next president would have to deal with Iraq. He ain't gonna pull out the troops, he'll leave that to someone else.

How many times, when growing up, did the family maid, butler, etc have to clean up after him?

[TexasProgresive]

3. I have an extremely dim view of the future of the world now

What BabyBitch and his cohorts have done is to destabilize the Near and Middle East. The laissez faire attitude towards Israel in its dealing with the Palestinians and Lebanon has created a critical mass situation. The neutron source is Iraq which never was a cohesive nation and now is a failed state.

I see no solution to getting the egg back into the shell that is the little bitch's Humpty-Dumpty. If our troops are pulled out it is likely that the situation will move from grave to critical, spreading like ebola throughout the region. If the troops stay they are only giving a semblance of stability while the pressures build even higher.

The idea that a strongman like Saddam could force Iraq back to a "Roman Peace" is no longer much of an option as there is no infrastructure, bureaucratic, military, security forces or physical plant to take over.

The only hope I can see is perhaps if the UN takes control of the situation. But it would require US troops under UN control because I don't think the rest of the nations would go for it if we were in control. Blue helmeted US troops would likely twist the wingnuts even tighter.

I believe that we are in a classic quandary.

[Warren Stupidity]

4. Not at all. Things are going great!

We cleaned up them WMDs. We got the Bad Saddam. We got that waggy blue finger freemon'n'moxy. We get them tersts and furry surgeons all pinned down in eye-rack so's we can fight them there before they is fighting us in the mall of america. Why do you hate freedom?

[sendero]

5. "Pessimistic"..

.... implies a predisposition to assume the worst. While I certainly qualify :), having a dim outlook on this "war" does not require pessimism.

Look at the trajectory of events. Look at the frankly ludicrous (we need to train the Iraqis to police themselves? what have we been doing for over 2 years?) prescriptions for change and the bottom line is - there is no "saving" Iraq from all out civil war militarily. It can't be done, and any general who says it can is a fucking McNamara liar.

There MIGHT be a political solution, but rather than pursue that our Idiot in Chief is going to screw around until not even a political solution is viable.

Anyone bleating about "winning" in Iraq is a full-on deludinoid, or a person with a vested interest in ssaving face who is willing to keep rolling the dice forever, as long as it is costing them nothing.

[opihimoimoi]

6. With Bush in there...How on Earth can I be OPTIMISTIC??

[sinkingfeeling]

7. Yes, and angry as hell. This idiot will continue down this path of death and

destruction until he is stopped by us.

[SutaUvaca]

8. Yes, pessimistic.

I think it will only get worse in Iraq, and extend to other places, so long as Chumpster and gang remain in place.

[cwydro]

9. Ditto

though it makes me sad to say so.