What message would we be sending to the terrorists if we brought our troops home now?

Question

I hear a lot about bringing our troops home. Too many are dying. Etc...etc.. (i.e. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AqHKksZ_XAbHuXFnhmgtfbTsy6IX?qid=20060613064909AAu6Fp5 )
What message would be sent to our troops as well as to the terrorists if we brought our troops home now before their job was done? Wouldn't we be demoralizing our troops and at the same time showing the terrorists that if they just kill one of us on tv we'll run away with our tail between our legs? What happened to "staying the course?"

badandigood:
I haven't heard stories of troops defecting. And as far as the job of diplomats... Look how well the U.N. did with Iraq for 10 years. No headway there, so I guess diplomacy doens't always work.

Answer 1

Staying in Iraq won't bring those men, who have sacrificed their lives for a war that never should have happened, back.

Despite NATO's investigations Bush started the war and has admitted , "'Oops, maybe it wasn't the right thing to do".

It's a simple fact, if you make a mistake...and don't correct it....you make another mistake. I am not willing to sacrifice my sons blood or anyone else's life for a mistake.

Come on ! Wake up ! This, what you call "job" is a farce. How on earth can you justify killing innocent people on both sides?

It's not a matter of running away with our tail between the legs...it's a matter of finally waking up and looking the truth in it's face. Not one more innocent young man should die because of our so called pride.

Would you be willing to die for this war? Would you really? Then what are you waiting for? Go on over....good luck to ja pal.

Answer 2

In my PERSONAL opinion, with wire tapping that the gov is doing, perusal of phone records and bank records, why do we need tanks?

With troops defecting from service, what would be demoralizing?

there is no sense staying a course when the course will lead you to crashing into a brick wall.

This war is killing people and the American economy. We do not have the global support (funding - troops - etc) and we do not have the money to fight on so many fronts at one time effectively.

unfortuantely, now the damage is done and we cannot leave Iraq just hanging and lawless. They do need our help, but what is the real JOB they are doing over there? Is it the military's job to assist in setting up a government? Shouldn't that be more like the job of a diplomat?

Answer 3

That's easily answered. As to our troops, look at the aftermath of Vietnam. We were totally demoralized until the Reagan buildup & action again in Central America & later in Gulf I. Many of those veterans now will not support military action under almost any circumstances because they see it all as pointless, which is understandable given their experience.

As to terrorist, look at the example of Vietnam, Beruit, Somalia. Especially Somalia. The entire point of "blackhawk down" was having learned from our tendency to "cut & run" when a little blood gets spilled on TV. They hit us hard & fast & we were out of there. Look where that place is now, in the process of becoming Taliban part II. It's not just predicting what might happen using history. It already has been proven. We need to stop that vicious cycle here & now when we have so many chips already in the middle. If we pull out, civil war will spread regionally, Islamic extremism will grow unchecked, and we'll be back there in 5 years standing between the entire mid-east rather than just Iraqis like we are today. A little blood now saves a lot later.

In other news, check this story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060628/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_060628170119;_ylt=A9G_Rwz8FaNElggBZhFX6GMA;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

Answer 4

The problem isn't "staying the course", it's that there is no course. As someone who spent 20 years in the military, starting with the end of the Nam era and running through the end of Desert Storm, I put it to you that the function of the military is kill people and destroy property. It is trained and equipped for that function and no other. When we sent our troops over there we had a military objective, break Saddam and destroy his power base. We did that quickly and efficiently. Now we are leaving them over there with no military objective, they are there to make centuries of internecine conflict miraculously go away and cause everyone to just get along. Sorry, that cannot be done through killing and destruction. The terrorists are counting on the American people getting tired of the cost and giving up just as we did in Nam. Our military is unsuited to an enemy that can't be identified or found, just as with the VC, you couldn't look a Viet Namese citizen and know if he was hostile untill he, or she, started shooting or tossing bombs, you can't look at an Iraqui and tell if he or she is hostile. There is no army to defeat, no bases to destroy, not even a country to occupy since we've already done that, so what, exactly is the course our military is staying? Furthermore, if we try and be truly objective, by what ethical or moral standard are the Iraquis resisting our occupation of their country any different from the Free French resisting German occupation in World War 2? They are even using the same tactics and strategy. As to what message we'd be sending, to the terrorists: "Given enough ant bites, even the Giant leaves"; to our troops, the same as we did vets of Nam and Desert Storm: "Now that we no longer need you, disappear and be forgotten".

Answer 5

Well the good news is, we ARE staying the course. There is so much air time and news print space to fill that they all have to talk about something. I personally would like them to talk about murders in the US cities, then do a comparison with what is happening in a real war zone. There are no plans in this administration to cut and run. We are working with the Iraq government that was formed by a free election of the Iraqi people. We (the coalition) are training their troops to take over. As they are increasing, we are decreasing. Its a smart way to do things. So the cut and run issue is one I'm not going to worry about right now.

Answer 6

The problem I have with "staying the course" is that no one has explained what "the course" is. We started off looking for WMD's, changed course to "installing democracy", and now we seem to be treading water until the Iraqi's get their act in gear. We are building several bases and a multi-billion dollar embassy there as a permanent reminder that "we're watching..."

I am not for, to steal a phrase from the other side, "cut and run". I, and most of the anti-war people I know, believe that, now that we're there, we need to finish what we started and then get the hell out. That's not running away with our tail between our legs, that's allowing them to be free.

As far as permanent bases and the embassy go: Why don't we just paint a giant bulls-eye on top of them, because that's what they'll be.

Why must everyone try to sum up complex ideas with simple little catch-phrases like "cut-and-run", that, at best, are inaccurate, and at worst deceitful? Do Americans really need to have things "dumbed-down" for them?

Answer 7

I just can't believe that people actually believe that this war can be won. We will never get rid of terrorism. It is something that we have lived with for years. It just happened to rear its ugly head when GW got into office. It would not send a message of shame or embarrassment. I think it would send the message that we care about our troops enough to get them the heck out of a country that will never be free. I mean what do you think the terrorists of 911 were trying to accomplish. They got exactly what they wanted. A war, a divided country, an American economy down the drain, and thousands of dead soldiers. I just don't think they expected us to attack Iraq. Considering they have never been tied to 911. Funny that all our time has been spent there.

Answer 8

The question is irrelevant. We're not in the business of waging war to send messages. That's what telephones are for. If we have a reason to go to war, then do it and don't hold back. And finish what we started because its the right thing to do.

If we don't have a reason, then stay out. Don't waste the lives, money, and resources. But don't change your mind in the middle. That isn't the right thing to do, either. It belittles the sacrifices of soldiers who have died, and it devastates the country where the war was fought.

Every person should always have a purpose for their actions, regardless of what that action is. If you're hungry, you eat. If you stink, you shower. Poop or get off the pot already! Life is not as complicated as we make it out to be.

Answer 9

It depends on the manner of how we bring them home. Find some goal for them to accomplish while in Iraq (ie. restore water, build a bridge, something that is some form of a goal) that way the President whomever it may be by then can say to the troops "Listen, you have served bravely here, done a remarkable job, your country is asking one last thing of you, then our mission here is done. We need you to ___________! Then return to Washington DC or New York for a victory parade.

It is all in the spin ladies and gentlemen. Our servicemen and women deserve to return with their head held high, and knowing they accomplished a goal we set for them so they may return with pride.

Answer 10

That we cut and run over political turmoil, created by liberals who just can't stand the fact that the republicans won 2 presidential elections.

The Demoncrats lie about troop fatalities and Iraqi civilian deaths.
Call a sitting President rude names and make allegations of personal interests and gain.