Why should our troops withdraw from iraq?
812790
We didn't cause the problem, first of all.\n\nIf we withdraw then we lose the war.  We will be killed by the terrorists after that and look like a bunch of loser wimps.\n\nWe must finish this or be finished.
668780
Well... thanks to bush pproving to send troops in the first place & destroying their country, if we pulled out now it WOULD cause absolute anarchy. We can't just go over there, wreck their land & leave. Yeah it was wrong as hell to do it but it has been done now & we gotta finish the job whether we like it or not. That's what happens when you have a dumbass in the whitehouse & even dumber advisors. Maybe next time more people will think before they vote!\nSigned.. A Military Wife
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.
255658
ALL HELL WILL BREAK LOOSE SOON... iraq is on the verge of all out civil war: shiite muslims fighting sunnis muslims within the country. situation there would be best assessed by US army intel operating within iraq.\n\nI feel it would be irresponsible, even catastrophic if US troops were to be pulled out now.
431885
I will put it you this way I am here to do a job and i am not leaving till it is done. It would be a waste of billions of dollars and millions of hours of hard work. Until the government is stable with a military that can protect it we will not leave. The only reason that we are going to pull out early is because of people complaining about it all the time and give the U.S. troops a bad name.
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.
776759
America should be serious with the Iraq issue or else it will be another Vietnam.  Troops must stay or leave completely, it is only one choice but must be properly implemented.
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.
941161
Leaving Iraq over a threat would only give them more strength. Leaving would show an extremely weak country that is divided over issues and that will not rise up to defeat them. We must prevail in Iraq.
964130
We should begin a phased withdrawal of the troops. The Iraqi government has had plenty of time to establish defenses and security for its people. By the bulk of the military operations in Iraq being conducted by Americans soldiers, it provides a crutch for Iraqi commanders and a lightning rod against America for Iraqi citizens. When this country was founded, French troops did not lead American forces in its defense after the revolutionary war, they took off as soon as the surrender was signed by Cornwallis. If the Iraqi government wishes to remain in power, it find a way to do so of its own accord. The military should maintain a few military bases for logistical support, similar to what happened in Germany after WW2, but that is all.
665489
When thier mission has been accomplished. Often the end result of a war is not known till many years after the fact. We should have ended this the first time we dealt with Iraq in the 90's. We prematurely withdrew then, and it is imperative that we stick this one throught to the end...whenever that may be. Support our troops! They are the very life-blood of this country! Let them know that thier efforts are not in vain and that they are very much needed and appreciated!!! For those of you who fear for the loss of American lives...yes, weep for them, mourn them...but it was a choice they made when they enlisted, so support the decision that they have made and support them!
792450
There is no 'Rosetta stone' answer for Iraq.. no easy answer. I think it is pointless to waste time on the 'woulda, coulda, shoulda' in the rearview mirror. Important what is at hand in the present. With that said, it achieves a great deal getting out. The most important - saving lives of both our troops and the innocents caught in the middle.\n\nThe question should be redirected (from the premise), 'What would be achieved by STAYING in Iraq?
691528
Troops - yes.\nWar - no.\nI support the troops, especially the national guard.\nThey had no choice, they were not provided with proper gear, there were not enough of them sent over initially and they are being asked to work harder and longer than ever.\nIn the early days leading up to the war, I believed the lies our administration told us about Iraq and I supported the invasion.\nToday, knowing what I know, I do NOT support our decision to invade Iraq.\nIt would be wrong to pull out now, but if the Republicans and President Bush in particular are even remotely as pro-life as they claim, they'll get our troops out ALIVE as soon as possible.
142565
Before the US can consider attacks on other countries, it would be smart to get out of the quagmire it has in Iraq. I used to believe the insurgents simply wanted us out of Iraq and that they would quit when we left.  I no longer believe that. I believe they are deliberately keeping us bogged down over there, and keeping us busy putting out fires, so that we can't leave.  We must feel some obligation to stay until we see at least one commencement ceremony from their new government.  That would allow a clean break and this will probably never happen.  It is now time for a serious exit strategy.  It is time to give Iraq a short term timetable.  It is time for our troops to come home, lick our wounds, and get ready for the next round, wherever that will be.  I seriously doubt that it will Pakistan as long as Musarreff is in charge. Iran, on the other hand, or Syria????
933520
The insertion of troops was a major mistake. The entire region under Islamic influence from Morocco to Indonesia is far less stable as a result. The U.S. is increasingly seen as dictatorial by increasing numbers of people around the world. Our economy has been vastly weakened. We do not have enough troops available should other emergencies develop. The Civil War, denied by the Bush administration but acknowledged as being fully underway by the rest of the world, deepens daily and leaves American troops there as sitting ducks. There can be no victory in Iraq. Just as the British learned after World War I, the Iraqis will not be conquered. There is too much value underground (oil) and too much division above-ground. The only result of continued occupation will be increasing governmental debt for the U.S. and more dead and injured American soldiers. Military contractors such as Halliburton are being enriched. The Bush administration has no idea of what they mean by "victory", nor does Tony Blair in England.
208077
no. the US should not pull all of the troops out of IRAQ right away. it should be a slow process while the iraqi govt learns how to handle the present situation on its own. by doing so, they will no longer need the US there and they will become a fully funtioning country that is able to defend its self.\nand im in the USMC
1118651
The war in Iraq will end when the new Iraqi government can maintain what we have built for them. It does no good to pull out if the Iraqi Army and governement isnt ready to shoulder the load. If we leave before that time then we will have to come back and clean up the mess again. If we had eliminated the problem in 1991 then we wouldn't be here now. But we listened to the infinite wisdom of the United Nations.