We withdrew from Vietnam & nothing bad happened; when we leave Iraq, won't they just keep fighting each other?
926391
when the US withdrew from Vietnam, 2 million south vietnamese died.\n\nHow is that not bad?
883064
My personal belief unfortunately will be the same as Vietnam...after spending vast amounts of money and human lives we may end up withdrawing.\n\nThe true outcome is determined by the citizens of the US .Will the citizens continue to support a war that has proven to be costly both in economic and casualty aspects? \n\nIt will take more than military force to establish peace in the Middle East.The divisions among the Shites and Sunnis go back many decades and peace must be worked out among these to groups themselves.\n\nThese groups will continue to live in the area long after the Coalitation Forces have returned home.
149728
No. This whole "democratic" Iraq issue is an exercise in futility. You are absolutely correct about how true democracy must be homegrown and spring up from within a nation and the hearts of its people. It cannot be imposed upon them from outside. They will resist, at all costs, they will resist.\n\nYou would have thought we'd have learned our lessons in Vietnam. Ho Chi Min originally wanted to make Vietnam a western-style democracy, basing its constitution on our own. He spent several years in the late 1950s in Paris trying to get western governments (including the US) to support him in this quest. He was rebuffed and ignored.\n\nAll he (and most Vietnamese) wanted was to throw off the chains of colonial rule (French, at the time) and be a free and independent nation. When the West balked, he turned to the East and ultimately embraced communism, alas. The Viet Cong sent the French packing and you-know-who stepped into the breach. You also know the rest of that sad story... \n\nWell, the circumstances are somewhat different (no threat of communism in Iraq, but plenty of even worse threats) but the end result will be the same. We will ultimately bring our soldiers home (and God knows they deserve to come home from that living hell) and Iraq, like Vietnam before it, will be left in utter chaos. \n\nHad we supported the uprisings against Saddam Hussein, which occurred naturally, even spontaneously, after the first Gulf War, NONE of this would be happening now. That swine would have been deposed and a representative government would have taken power (the Iraqis, particularly the Kurds, are an intelligent and capable people). It may not have been exactly what the US wanted, and oil contracts might not have been quite as sweet for Exxon-Mobil and the rest, but this insane nightmare of an endless bloodbath would not be continuing as it is now.\n\nI'll stop now. Except to say that I really do hate bush and his arrogant advisers for dragging us into this no-win situation. \n\n*sigh*\n\nNo wonder everyone hates us so much....
1066054
When america coerced the un to enter vietnam under the guise of atrocities commited by the north against the south. it was the south who tried to set up a puppet govt. When vietnam won indepenence from france it was only one country.Liberated by the communist regime.The usa could'nt coerce the un to invade iraq they went ahead anyway for some ulterior motive. Certainly not the stated reason In both wars it was absolute banditry they will be deafeted.No matter how strong you cannot break the will of the people
786132
The USA is obsessed with the concept of world dominance. It has refused to  learn from history and its experience in Vietnam. It could not prevent Vietnam from being a communist  state. It had fueled Afghanistan crisis and now trying to dose it off. Withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan will not be that easy and the change of guard in White House will have least impact on taking such a decision.
712042
I don't know if you or the other people who have answered so far have been to Iraq....or the middle east and it isn't critical.  During my time there many of us (civilian & military; US, UK, Aussis) after long discussions and debates finally came up what we believe is truly the real reason we are in Iraq...or at least  should be. It has nothing to do with oil, US or western politics, religion, the preservation of the Iraqi culture or the people as they exist today or whether they kill each other or not.   \n\nIt is simple, obvious and important and something the rest of the Arab (and Persian Iran) countries fear, dread and would (and might) do anything to stop.  However as obvious as it is expressing the objective and providing all the reference material is, well, I've done so often that it becomes draining.  But just try to think of the most feared action that couldhappen to a Muslim/Islamic government.\n\nMy views on your Q? They have been killing each other for over 2000 years and regardless how long we stay or if we go they will keep doing it.  The killing and fighting is tribal, sect vs sect of Muslim religions, clan fueds, family fueds, honor, dis-honor and preceived beliefs of each.  And they murder, maim, and assult for alleged, real or imagined insults, slights or gestures more often then for financial or territorial gain.  Do all the Iraqis do this..no.  But in my experience there.... in happens far more often that any sane (western) would have imagined possible.\n\nRack it up to different cultures, beliefs, history or even a lack of a basic level of education or common sense.  Is it their fault?  No.  Is it univerisial in the middle-east or in the Muslim world?  No.  I have seen,meet and worked with Kuwaitis and Bahrainians that have educated, sensible....and basically westernized behaviors.  But is the the right answer to stop the killing and violance...no.\n\nIf the goal of our being in Iraq that I did not expresss...and yes I and the guys in Iraq could be wrong...is not achieved then my own opinion?  Leave them to continue their own culture, fueding, continuos killing and let them for the most part...remain stuck in the 13th century.  \n\nNowever, if they or their buddies initiate attacks on America, Americans, our international interests or our military assets and people; like the attack on the USS Cole then the let the full might of the USA rain down upon them and my God forgive them.  And as for Allah....even he won't be able to save them.\n\nOk, more than you wanted to know but those are my views...especially after riding in convoys hit by IEDs 7x and killing 12 people....and I won't even discuss the 35 plus mortar attacks, and 5 missile attacks that hit near by and also injured and killed civilians and soldiers.  By no one forced me to work in Iraq....and I hope to return back there and work with our troops again.
818731
Its what needs to be down to secure Iraq, but it wont happen because the American people as a whole don't want to be in Iraq.  Americans see Iraq as another Vietnam, but Iraq can't be won unless we see the middle east as we once saw the wild west.
771577
Yes, our military involvement in Iraq will end, whether it's called a war, police action, or whatnot. At the very least, a president -- likely not the current one -- will simply declare victory, or mission accomplished, and then pull the troops out. Very much like what occurred in Vietnam. But if we settle for this sort of "victory," we may well face dire consequences as a result. \n\nI certainly hope we are able to bring our troops home after they have truly accomplished their mission. Are they very far away from doing that? From the news reports it certainly seems a distant thing.
707275
I'd love to see our troops come home and they can , just as soon as your government can stand by itself .\nRight now , you have a lot of trouble because different factions want to rule the country . Some would be new dictatorships if they won .\nIf we pulled out , next week , you'd have a full blown civil war that would last for years . You could end up with someone a lot worse than Saddam .\nThe key is for all the people of Iraq to learn to live and work together as equals , not as Shia , Sunni and Kurds ,but as Iraqis .
857477
I would love to say yes it is. But we can't leave now with the mess Iraq is in. I don't think we should have ever gone over there, we did. We can't leave them with this Chaos,  they have nothing in place to deal with any of this violence.We have to finish what we started. If we leave now, it only makes us look worse than we already look. I think it will be a long time before our troops can come home, unfortunately.
729469
Apparently our current one.  Remark about the lessons of Vietnam: \n\n'WE WILL WIN UNLESS WE QUIT.'
925960
When there is more stability in Iraq.  As of now the only peace that is being maintained over there is due to us maintaining it.  We're actually brining peace to the country as opposed to if we were to pull out all hell would break loose.\nIt's hard to say when we'll pull out, but I'm guessing in the next 3 years we may see some downsizing of our troops over there.
1127777
I don't know if the US has compensated Vietnam for war crimes but I feel they should - but not as long as the government is still Communist. And we need to stop committing these war crimes? We wouldn't have to compensate for them if we didn't commit them. Better yet, we need to stay out of these countries. I still can't figure out why we were in Vietnam in the first place - they didn't ask for our help! Nor did the Iraqis.
640689
Hate to tell you Navy Officer, there were no insurgents in Iraq bedore we got there.\n\nAnd your pious attitude about the death of American Soldiers for illigeyimate reasons is sickening. Pick up a rifle my man and jump on a land mine.\n\nAnd your Vietnam statements are even worse. I didn't see you there! Nixon Withdrew the troops.\n\nSource:\n15th Field Artillery Regiment\nWWI WW2 Korea Vietnam\nPanama Bosnia Iraq\nVietnam War Timeline\n"An individual's political beliefs depend on when\nhe became politically aware."\nAUTHOR UNKNOWN\n\n1970 - War Powers - By the time Congress learned that the naval incident leading to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (1964) had been misrepresented and moved to repeal the resolution in 1970, President Nixon had already shifted to another legal rationale -- his constitutional powers as "Commander in Chief" -- for his Vietnam policies. In its 1969 "national commitments" resolution, the Senate made a bid to reassert a congressional voice in decisions committing the US to the defense of foreign countries. The House passed war-powers measures in 1970, 1971 and 1972.\n27 Jan 73 - Official end of the Vietnam War.   Between 27 Jan and 29 Mar 73, a total of 587 military and civilian prisoners were released by the North Vietnamese, and during that same period, 23,500 US troops were withdrawn from South Vietnam\n29 Mar 73 - 67 more US P.O.W.'s were freed in Hanoi. The same day, the US withdrew its remaining 2,500 troops from South Vietnam. This date also marked the actual end of military involvement in Vietnam.\n10 May 73 - Due to continued bombing of Laos and Cambodia, the House voted (219-188) for the first time to cut-off Indochina funds\n31 May 73 - The Senate took strong action prohibiting the use of any funds appropriated by Congress to be used for combat activities in Laos or Cambodia\n7 Nov 73 - War Powers Act - Congress dealt President Nixon a stunning setback when it voted to override his veto of legislation limiting presidential powers to commit US forces abroad without congressional approval.   Congress, with the Vietnam War and the showdown over continued bombing in Cambodia behind it, was anxious to reassert its role in the conduct of the country's foreign affairs"\n\nYou have no idea of the total mess we have made in Iraq and in the world community.
838125
YES, pulling out of Iraq now would be tantamount to the US Government pulling out of South Vietnam in 1975 and letting the Communist North Vietnamese coming across the border and killing 2 million South Vietnamese who had either worked for us or help us in the war and the \nPol Pot regime who killed another 2 to 4 million Cambodians.You are not wrong. What would happen \nwould be a signal to the Islamo-fascist terrorists that this country is ripe for a take over by them. We CANNOT LET THAT HAPPEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
375427
i dn't know about vietnam and heroshima but iraq because our ass is still over there and we can't take our a whole country. and if iraq was so bad why we beat them in a week why we over there in the frist place they didn't bomb us think about it
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.