If leaving Iraq early(cut and run) would be considered by some to be an act of cowardice....What Say You....?

Question

We incorporate the Draft,so all (18-35) be given the chance to indulge in the true spirit of bravery,

Answer 1

Cowardice is staying the course out of fear of admitting that you were wrong.

Cowardice is staying with a broken strategy out of fear that you might appear incompetent.

At this point, anyone who doesn't listen to the spin machines on either side of this debacle (and can read congressional reports) knows that Iraq was, AT BEST, a mistake. All the reasons for invading Iraq were falsified.

There was no plan for what would happen after the invasion, or what any middle east strategist would call a plan. Whoever thought that a country that used to be torn by centuries of social and religious strife would magically harmonize and embrace democracy was completely naive. Just look at what happened in Kosovo.

In fact, our invasion has made things worse. Just do a search for the latest congressional report on terrorism.

Now most normal people, when they realize they've made a mistake, apologize and try to correct that mistake. Most normal people realize that if you don't fix a mistake that it can become an even bigger mistake.

So that's what we have here. A result of what was a mistake turning into a really big mistake and getting bigger everyday.

So how do you fix something of this magnitude? Well, you really can't. It's now up to the Iraqi people. Our presence there only acts as a lightening rod.

I'm sure some will say "Well with a big enough force...". Those who say that apparently aren't familiar with resistance fighters, especially ones with religious fervor. They also aren't familiar with a similar situation that happened not to long ago involving the USSR and a rag tag band of "freedom-fighters" led by Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan. The USSR lost by the way.

You can't force people to do something. They have to do it on their own. Forcing them just causes anger and enmity, even if what you're trying to force them to do is for their own good.

The ideal soultion is to get a large multi-national peace keeping force in Iraq. Unfortunately, the US blew that capital when it basically ignored the UN and invaded Iraq anyway.

So now what? Well, we can stay there and be stuck in a conflict that never ends (see Vietnam, USSR vs. Afghanistan) that just keeps escalting in costs in life and capital, or we accept the fact that we made and incredible mistake (which we did) and cut our losses.

I can guarantee that if they start a draft, you'd see a full scale revolt against the government. More than half the people believe Iraq is a mistake and any politician with aspirations of re-election wouldn't touch a draft resolution with a 6 foot disgraced republican lobbyist.

~X~

Answer 2

I really despise the whole 'cut and run' depiction; it's a Republican talking point that completely ignores the truths about what has happened in Iraq.

Bush and MORE THAN HALF THE COUNTRY decided it was a good idea to invade Iraq, despite that fact that there were very smart, knowledgeable people screaming at the top of their lungs that it was a bad idea. That was not out of cowardice, that was because they understood what a really, really stupid idea it was.

Now that the other half of the country is back on top, (many of our gung-ho citizens having realized what a really, really, stupid idea it was), the decision to stay or go is hanging fire. It's not about cowardice, it's about politics.

The Democrats face a very tough decision. Knowing we should not be in Iraq in the first place, what's the right thing to do? Pull out? Such a course of action is unpopular with Republicans, and those who feel it's the height of bad manners to wreck a country and leave, but it seems a majority of Americans now want our troops out of there. The Democrat's mandate is to serve the will of the people. So, what do the people really want?

I, for one, don't believe Americans are cowards. I just think we haven't thought it through. Not surprising, since our national memory apparently only stretches to sports statistics and what happened on the latest episode of our favorite TV show. But, I believe, we have to eventually realize that we need to fix our mistakes, and do whatever it takes to make that happen. A draft? Maybe. We should probably go back to our allies and see if they will help us out, and get Iraq's neighbors involved as well. If we can get enough people on the ground in Iraq, we can control it.

See, it's kind of like the first time that you decide, rather than lying about a mistake you made, or trying to hide the truth, you're going to own up. You may get punished, but deep down you feel better, knowing that you did the honorable thing. America needs to decide to take responsibility for its mistake. The people who say, "But, I always was against the war!" need to recognize that it's not about them anymore.

I believe, over the course of the next couple of years, that we will collectively decide to make it right. We'll get enough troops together, however we have to do it, and we'll go in and clean house. We can't bring back all the innocent people who have died because of us, but we can put their country back together for the survivors. Once we can agree on a course of action, as a country, we'll pull together. Courage is not a problem.

Answer 3

Being a soldier is a profession in US. It's a career. It is one of the most dangerous careers, but also one which will provide all the training and almost everybody qualifies for it.
Next most dangerous job in the US is working in the logging industry. (http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/careerbytes/CBArticle.aspx?articleID=421&cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=86aae6ce935d4bb29a2b214c1b8af06a-217257304-TU-4)

I support the logging industry, and I'm happy they are risking their life just for me to have a desk, chair, or whatever they make out of wood.
But that doesn't mean that I would join the logging industry, and start working in it.

I believe that pulling out of Iraq sends a very bad message, and US will screw up it's foreign policy for a long while. This will have an effect on our economy for at least 100 years.

I support our troops, and the war in Iraq, and I will surely not go there and fight in their place. It's not my job. Cutting trees is not my job either.

But to tell you the truth, I'm not afraid. The troops will not leave Iraq until 2008, and whoever becomes president, Republican, Democrat or even Independent...they will not pull out of Iraq. As long as we will be in Iraq, we will have peace of mind.

Answer 4

The cut and run from Iraq would probably have very undesirable consequences like Iran moving in and taking over or a long civil war with unknown results. A staged withdrawl with a plan of how to manage Iraq is needed and is being discussed. Hopefully some middle of the road solution will come out of discussions. Otherwise even more Middle East tension will result. This whole war was such bloody mistake.

Answer 5

Cut and Run as you call it is NOT an option for our military troops! They are anything but cowards! How disrepsectful of you to even post such a dumb question!

You can disagree with the war all you want, BUT DO NOT DISRESPECT THOSE WHO ARE SERVING YOUR COUNTRY!!

Answer 6

I think any form of Draft would violate the Thirteenth Amendment.

Answer 7

Real simple. Did the school yard bully ever leave you alone after you walked away? Did he leave you alone after you gave him your lunch money? Did he leave you alone after you let him copy your test? NO. HE WAS THERE THE NEXT DAY WANTING MORE. So you hit him in the face and SURPRISE!!!! He decides to go bug someone else the next day.

Answer 8

I think you should join and go fight. The age of enlisiting is now up to 42 years.

To view the entire article, go to
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/18/AR2006111801076.html?referrer=emailarticle

Answer 9

No, it would be an act of sheer stupidity.

The new Persian Empire would love it, however, and will flood in to filled the void

When that happens, you can expect Tel Aviv to last ten minutes.

Answer 10

All for it, my daughter is a marine and my son is in the army. It would give some of these kids something better to do with their time.