How long do you think our military will be in Iraq? What will happen when we leave?
362565
I think that we will be there for several years to come--at least 5.  Or until a new pres. takes the Oath and yanks them all (our troops) back. \n\nI don't think we will ever completely leave Iraq.  We still have bases in Germany, Japan, and many other countries. (Of course, they are our Allies now....maybe one day Iraq will will one of our Allies, too.  Wow, that's like imagining to live on the moon!!)
457997
I think the end of 2008 is when the U.S. military should start leaving.  The Iraqi military will be in control of 75% of Iraq at the end of the summer and probably 90 something percent at the end up 2008.  They could finish it from there.
1160619
Iraq will need us for a long time still. When we are finished there, though, North Korea is in need of an overhaul in a big, big way. For insight on that, rent the documentary "State of Mind". If we don't go to North Korea first, I'm sure we'll go to Iran. YIKES!
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.
891702
Highly doubtful.  We are likely to keep a "garrison" there for quite some time.  We still have bases in Saudi Arabia etc.  Which btw- is one "sore point" with Osama on why he declared jihad against the US.
1084676
Yes, eventually. If more of you that want us out would enlist and we had enough troops for shorter rotations, we would have teh strength to leave sooner.
991842
What is happening now is what will happen when we leave.  There is no real democracy in Iraq, democracy is a heck of a lot more than votes.  It is a collection of shared social and political values put into a formal construct.  Iraqis do not have the values, the experience, and the sharing that would produce democracy.  Sectarian strife will continue, intensify when we leave, and the only thing that will keep Muslim extremists from taking over will be a situation much like the one we ruined, rightly or wrongly, by invading.
697581
We will be there until the Government is stable and their military is effective.  The best way to succeed in this is to increase troop presence, but good luck with that...\n\nIf we had sent the proper ammount of troops in the first place and the administration listened to the Generals on the ground, this would have been nearly over...
860587
This is surely the actions of the Insane. As if 20,000 more troops are going to make the difference?\n\nA pal of mine in the forces tell me they are only allowed out of Barracks except in the day when patrolling and not at night when the insurgents then do their nasty work. Our troops clear up in the day and then the Iraqis replace at night whatever has been removed. This is a crazy situation which must end now.
907271
I don't think they'll bring them home right away.  Georgie boy made quite a mess - it's going to take a while to clean it up.\n\nI think that it will be sooner - but we can't make a mess in the kitty litter box over there and then leave it for someone else to clean up.\n\nI think our force will be smaller, and it will be there more for aide than for war/policing.  that is Iraq's problem now.\n\nUnfortunately, they're in a civil war - whether Bush wants to admit it or not, and a lot of Iraqi's will die in that civil war - but again, that's not our problem.  We were going to stay out of it anyway.\n\nI foresee that if the Dems win, and they will - our boys (and girls) will be back home in two years - tops.\n\nI think we'll withdraw from Iraq, possibly even Afghanistan, and go do something worth-while, like help out in Africa.  That's where the real help is needed.
693330
I have been thinking that way for a long time. there are some dodgy questions being asked. a couple i have seen, How Many Exactly US troops in Iraq.How do you get to a certain navel station. How many tanks has US got in Iraq. Do you know when a certain Division is about to be moved over to Iraq. these are just some of the ones i think are suspicious.
793412
I would involve Iran and Syria in all talks about Iraq's future.  Because if we pull out too early, or if their government just crumbles anyway those two countries will most likely be involved anyway.  Syria is mostly Sunni and Iran is mostly Shiite.  If we can get those two countries to work together to make a better Iraq, then we may be able to put an end to the sectarian violence.  As for our active roll, I'm torn.  As a member of the US Army I don't like the idea of just giving up.  Our biggest problem right now is that we don't have enough troops in Iraq to do the job correctly.  A lot of people know this but it is political suicide to send more troops to an unpopular war.  If we keep the current troop levels in Iraq, we will never win this thing, the sectarian violence will turn into an all out civil war, and more innocent people will die.  I think if we're not going to send more troops, then we should just pull everyone out now.  Because if we're not win this war, there's no point in dragging it out only to pull out 5 years from now and have everything go wrong.  In the mean time more Americans will die and for nothing.  We need to either do it right, or leave because in the mean time we're just sending more of our soldiers into harms way.  And I'd hate to see more people die for nothing.  It's unsettling to me.  All or nothing.
1152639
Yeah! There are people like me out there! I agree 100%. People are forgetting that Iraq wasn't exactly the peaceful little place people thought it was before we got there. If we leave now, a huge civil war will erupt between all these different muslim groups to try to control power.
1184476
what are you talking about withdrawing? we haven't left. it will just mean our people will be over there for an even longer amount of time cause our current president is a moron for thinking we have to stay there and be a police force
743287
Just about all wars see major shifts in goals and tactics at some point making the original goals and tactics obsolete.  If we leave Iraq tomorrow the result would be a major power struggle resulting in a winner.  that winner will be the badest of the bunch and most likely hate the west.  We will leave him the 2nd largest oil reserves in the world.  He will spend that oil wealth on exporting terror with the best weapons money can buy.  We are part of this world we better have a force there!!
525034
our troops will stop dying for that particular cause and Iraq will probably revert to a war torn arena that is governed by warlords and/or different religious factions until the most powerful one is able to take control, which will probably/definitely be another Saddam.... then you will have another situation unlike the previous and we can start all over, probably with a US leader that will not invade but will allow a military buildup and then we can just let them invade us..... after all, the only thing most (not all but most) of the governments in that part of the world want is the complete destruction of the west.... which includes us and anyone that is on our side................. so while no one wants what we have there now.... the choice is finish it and get out or get out and let them finish us............... our choice.
682441
Hun you do relieze that you put IRAN right and not IRAQ... Cause that is where I am right know IRAQ.. And this war is going to go on for a while.. we are going to be here for a long time.. This war is not a war on a battle field anymore.. it is a war against Insergeants who are trying to win the people over... the war we are at is called Counter INsergancy... We the United Nations... are trying to win the hearts and minds or the people (people being Iraqies)... But in a recent study that came down it will take at least 9 years for this "war" to be won... and 13 years to be one if the insergents do a better job at winning over the local population.. and from the front lines.. it is happing we are losing this war in the long run. American Soldiers are killed everday.. It was totaled and average.. we loose about 3-5 American Troops aday... that is through the Airforce, Navy, Mariens, and Army... If you as me Yes I want to be here... Cause if where to Loose this war...then my brothers and Sisters have dies for nothing... If you want to talk more in depth about it please feel free to Im me... or Email me