should we be calling for the return of our troops from iraq?
397467
I support the troops 500% -- Lets bring them home alive !!!!
725238
Yes, definitely, we should bring our troops home, if Sadam was the real reason for invading Iraq.  Unfortunately, some of us still believe in our dear president's lie... And if it were about establishing democracy, then we would have done that long ago, in countried like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, China, Egypt, ... you get my point?\n\nWe've opened a can of worm with his sentencing... All over the world, this will be seen as the winner kills the loser; and in doing so, we've killed thousands of innocent Iraqi bystanders ... so I wonder... who's going to be responsible for those later deaths? Shouldn't the perpetrators be tried too?? the US???, oh no, of course not ... it was also Sadam's fault, right???
46735
The truth is if we can get our troops out of iraq you will see more people sign up. To most people right now it's like signing up for a game of russian rollette. Would you like to be the first one to put a gun to your head with a loaded chamber and pull the trigger. I think not. Till people know they don't have a risk of dieing because there most probley going to be shipped off to iraq your not going to see your recruitment numbers go up. The answer is support the troops but BRING THEM HOME!
942528
Our soldiers offer to give up their lives so that we can be free. It is their gift to us. And all they ask for in return is that we never send them into harm's way unless it is absolutely necessary. \n\nThe best way to support our troops is to hold to account the Government who put them in harm's way based on a lie.\n\nWe must support our troops by demanding that they're pulled out away from murder and murdering on behalf of politicians who couldn't be bothered to even join up themselves.
1178617
As I read this question, the hope is not merely to convince the American people that it's a good idea to bring the troops home, but also to motivate them to action. As previous posters have suggested, mere public opinion isn't necessarily going to have a measurable effect on policy decisions.\n\nThe current state of things already suggests that Americans are unhappy with the war, but even those staunchly opposed to the invasion from the start often feel that to leave "prematurely" could irreparably harm the development of the new Iraqi government.\n\nOf course, that issue is mired in policy spin and PR - I would venture out on a limb and say that it's extremely difficult for the average American to get a good, valid sense of conditions in Iraq - stability of government and infrastructure, genuine threat assessments, etc. I can honestly say, despite spending a good deal of time trying to figure it out - I have no idea how much "we" are needed to keep stability there now.\n\nObviously, "the job is done" is a fine message to send to the American people, and it might do the convincing that the original question requests. However, it depends on where this message comes from.\n\nIf liberal or progressive sources, for example, proclaim proudly that "the job is done", while the administration does the opposite "...and we will stay as long as we're needed" - then public opinion may divide strongly along party lines about the imminent need to bring troops home. So unless this message comes from the right place, I think it will fail.\n\nSo what is the right origin for a message - one that counters policy PR spun by an administration with contrary goals?\n\nI read recently that Howard Zinn believes that messages like this need to come from the troops themselves - and in this case, I heartily agree.\n\nIf the troops themselves begin to voice *either* an overwhelming sense of dissent from the administration - i.e. "We're no longer accomplishing anything here but putting ourselves at risk", or an overwhelming sense of completion - i.e. "We've accomplished our goals in Iraq; it's time to come home"....if THOSE voices could be heard, then our troops could come home.
194479
NO. I have friends and family who are in Iraq in the military and my father in law just got back from Iraq as a civilian bomb dog handler. Each of them has told me how saddened and sickened they are by the media portrayal of only negative things from the war. Each of them has told me about how they can see positive changes in Iraq and how much better the living conditions are over there now and how they have started schools and brought order back in many places. I don't think that is a waste of time. It is hard for us who have people we love over there and I am sure we would like to see them all come home safely and not have to be at war -- but the efforts made my our troops in Iraq are not a waste of time.
1122247
when bush is not our president...... i think thats when  the troops will come home....sorry not be mean or nothin
710993
The UK has already begun the retreat. I expect Australia and others to follow. We are too deeply entrenched to do exactly that very quickly. Democrats know this. We are likely the ones who will remain behind to help Iraq. \nThere are much deeper reasons aside from democracy for Maliki's call to remain in Iraq indefinitely. There are ties between Iraqi leadership begging us to stay, Saddam's death sentence, and Don Rumsfeld's resignation yesterday. Maybe something on the scale of Watergate from the Nixon era.
690746
I agree 100%. But we can do more. Remember, some of these brave men and women have been away from their families for over 18 months, while the US government cuts their pay and benefits. Most of the troops in Iraq are reservists, meaning they left better paying jobs here to go fight there.\n\nI support our brave and noble men and women in uniform not only with a handshake, but with donations to charities that help the family they are seperated from. The 2 I give to are listed below, but there are many more.
215449
We withdrew about 15,000 troops that we had sent in for extra security for the December 15, 2005 Iraqi election.  Osama bin Laden second in command releases a tape stating that we were withdrawing our troops because we know we lost the war in Iraq.  The insurgents are terrorists being backed by bin Laden and his followers.  It is their attempt to make the country fall into Civil War thus making us look badly to their people.  If we leave there will definitely be a Civil War at once without our security to keep the different factions apart until the Iraqi government becomes strong enough to control these matters themselves.  Either way it looks as though we are there for a lot longer than we want to be.  It is better for us to remain there a little longer and lose credibility because of it than to withdraw all our troops and have the whole Middle East fall into chaos and lose credibility because of that.  Whatever we do in the position we are in is not going to please all the people.  We are better off keeping the terrorist's in a part of the world where our military can fight them than to be fighting them in our streets.
705434
While I am not serving actively now I am a veteran.  You need to change your statement to 'some' of the soldiers fighting over there understand.  There are many who do not believe we should be in Iraq.  There are many who do not believe Iraq is a true part of the war on terror.  Afghanistan is part of that war but we are not putting anywhere near as much support into that war now.\n\nIt is not reasonable to state that if we pull out of Iraq the Sunnis, Shia's and Kurds will come here to fight.  These people are fighting for superiority or seperate statehood in Iraq.  They would have nothing to gain by coming here.  As for the real trerrorist organizations?  Our presence there may make it easier for them to fight us close to their homes but don't kid yourself, that will not stop them from attempting to hit us here.  whether we stay there or not that will always be a danger.
935536
the Democratic party can ask bush all they want to bring home the troops . but its all up to him not them. if we brought them home today in less than a week there would be another attack on us soil . trust me ive been to iraq. those people are nuts
1015674
I feel our president is on track with Iraq.  It's a touch and go situation right now but from what I have seen and read I feel we are on track.  If it were possible I would like to see Iraqi troops and police taking over more responsibility of there country and maybe help them more than we have to accomplish this goal.  We know they want there freedom, are willing to die for it and hope we can help them achieve there goals.  So other than that there is not much I would or would try to change.  I have faith in our military and our president's actions.\n\nGood question.
629256
If you have to ask that question our troops are doing their jobs...
878265
Probably not. We need to take our time to make sure this turns out the right way. If we try to leave to quickly the whole Iraq liberation would be a failure and we'd have another vietnam.
1117216
No, there should be no cast-in-concrete definite date. The reason is not because US troops should be removed from Iraq, because they should be, but because giving a definite date will work to the advantage of insurgents who can then plan accordingly.  As long as the insurgents are kept second guessing the US intentions they will be off balance and will not be able to formulate definitve actions based on that information.  \n\nWhat would probably work far better is a gradual drawdown of so many thousands a month or whatever, with the option to send them right back if any massive insurgent attacks occur.  By gradually pulling troops out, there will be no definite date that would mark a boundary between "troops there" and "troops not there".  It's sort of the reverse of putting the frog in the pot of cold water and gradually turning up the heat; the water begins to get warm so gradually that the frog doesn't notice it and before he knows it he is boiled to death.  A gradual drawdown of troops would be much the same only in reverse.  As US troops gradually leave, the power shift to Iraqi soldiers would be hardly noticable until one day they all come to the realization that all the US troops  had left months ago.
523098
I agree, we need to get out of the Iraqi land and let them decide for themselves what kind of government they want. It is wrong to occupy foreign soil, especially for the reasons that Bush gives.