So Stay the Course has failed - Now what?

Question

I was opposed to going into Iraq but once we did, I kept saying we needed more troops.

Now, 4 years later and a civil war on the brink, what do we do?

Believe it or not, I don't have a set opinion... that's why I am not a politician. :)

I see two options:

1. We send, as some are now recommending, ~150k more troops. Some are suggesting 50k more but I say that if you are going to go for it then why not send enough that you have no doubt is an adequate number.

Would more troops be able to resolve the issues? I think so except how do we control a civil war where we would be put in a position of killing Iraqis that we 'liberated'...?

2. We begin a pull-out of troops. I guess this option would leave it up to the Iraqis to resolve their differences and we just let the cards fall where they may???

Looking for thoughts and opinions on the matter.

Answer 1

Yes, it is that simple theoretically, but on the ground in Iraq nothing is simple, which is why we're in this situation in the 1st place.

Practically, either option could be made to work to at least some degree, but symbolically, pulling out the troops at this point in the war would make our military seem as weak as it is, and even invite problem countries like Iran and North Korea to keep building up their nuclear programs.

Personally, I think that the result of this war should be determined by the U.N., yes I said it, the U.N.

It is basically the world's largest governing body and could send many more troops into Iraq without the moral and/or fiscal dilemmas our country has with doing that.

Furthermore, if the U.N. entered the war at this point, no one would say that they were "forcing Democracy down the Iraqis' throats, because the U.N. is viewed more as a peacekeeping body than an angry snake being stepped on (the U.S. after 9/11), so their taking over in Iraq would be allowed by all countries.

Answer 2

Ahhh the six million dollar question. I've been listening to Mike Gallagher and he is asking the same thing. Challenging everyone to come up with a better plan then to stay and win, what ever that means. He says if we pull out now then the whole region will go into chaos and America will be viewed as not having the military strength to accomplish the toppling of a crippled country such as Iraq and still be able to put Humpty together again.
I've noticed that many people who answered seem to think that if we simply stepped aside politically the military would be able to handle everything. Until the election however, that's what's been happening. Except they haven't done a good job handling things. The situation looks pretty dire to say the least. Some seem to feel why not just blow up Iraq then build it again. Well at this point we have put a lot of money into defense contracting companies accounts and seen little results with even less accountability. When Bechtel decided it was too violent in Iraq to do what they were paid 2.3 billion to do, they didn't do it. Nor did they give any of the money back*1.
What do you say people! should we still step aside and let the military do what it's been doing for too long now? or do you start caring about how the use of the military effects you too. I'm not asking for miracles people. I'm not going to ask you to care if someone else dies because they weren't born on the part of earth you were. But at least care enough that when the government gives your tax dollars to the military they turn around and give it away expecting nothing in return. How would you feel if when you gave someone 2.3 billion dollars to build a pool in your backyard then they don't come because crime is to high in your area? Now think about it from the Iraqis perspective if you can. They get there country bombed. Then instead of having their infrastructure rebuilt they witness crooked corporations come in and do shoddy work with American employees if they do it at all. Meantime unemployment in Iraq has reached 70% *2.

Unfortunately by this point things have spun far beyond control over there. Amazing what living without so much of what they take for granted will do to a society*3. Say what you will about Saddam I don't think many will argue that for the day to day living of most Iraqis there was order. They knew what to expect.

Yesterday Iran and Syria delegates went and talked with Iraqi officials. Seems this is the first time since 1982 Syria has undergone diplomatic relations with Iraq. Now we are faced with a dilemma. Are we there to have an independent and self sustaining Iraq or one we control? If it is the former then we step aside and let these neighbors support Iraq. If it's the latter we stay the course even if no victory is in sight. Even if we don't have a clue as to what victory is and how to get there we need to stay and keep these other two countries away.
Seriously my response is to let the region stabilize themselves. If Iran and Syria want to help and that's what the Iraqi government wants then they should be able to go after what they want. If they want America to step aside while this happens we should respect their wishes. Iran and Syria don't want to have chaos and destruction at their boarder. The Iraqis are their Arab brothers are they not? Wouldn't those countries want to help each other.

Peace in the middle east is in my prayers tonight. As well as for peace to flourish in all of your hearts.

Ofcourse I could never say all this to Mike since he would laugh at me the second I said things weren't going well over there.

Answer 3

Sending more troops in might sound like a great idea, but it has a major flaw.

Unlike WWII where the enemy wore a different uniform making it easy to tell friend from foe, the Iraqi insurgents dress the same way as every other person.

More troops simply means more opportunity to kill an American soldier, either by the bullet or by the bomb.

If it was simply a "numbers game" then the USA would have sent every soldier it had into combat at day one.

The reality is that there is only so much that individual soldiers on the ground can do, and extra soldiers just mean more targets to shoot at.

Only by wining the hearts and minds of the population can insurgents be caught or driven out. As long as they have safe houses and supporters then they will continue fighting.

The USA was hailed as liberators when they first went in - now more and more of the population see them as an army of occupation, out to steal Iraqi oil.

Answer 4

A new Pentagon plan offers three alternatives, but the conclusion is inescapable that there are ultimately no good military options in Iraq. Go big - add a lot of troops and use counterinsurgency tactics - this is not sustainable, the US doesn't have enough fresh troops. Go home - withdraw the troops - this will quickly result in civil war. Go long - add 20,000 troops for a short time to quell the insurgency, then draw down the number to about 60,000 and hope the Iraqis can stand up so more of our troops can stand down. If this happens, the US can reduce its presence to a relative few military advisors who will work within the Iraq army.

Iran and Syria now want to help stabilize Iraq, and are trying to enlist the support of other Arab countries. The US may already be involved in this process, Baker has already conferred with them. I think the reality of this war will suddenly hit Bush on the head, and US troops will redeploy as Iranian and Syrian troops move in.

Answer 5

More stay the course. President Bush has made it crystal clear he ain't leavin'. Now for the rest of the news. He may not be leaving but the troops will be exiting. There is no what else. Send in 150k more troops. From where? This country does not want the draft, no draft, no troops. There is no other option than to leave. It will be a drawn out affair, but leave we will. More troops would only be more targets. This is going to end just like Viet Nam and the people of Iraq are going to kill each other for a while, the religious crazies and the power seekers are going to kill whoever it is they perceive as threats, people in the government are going to get whacked and anarchy will reign. Other countries in the region will finally start to step in and some kind of order will start taking place. We can never beat people who are not wearing uniforms, we can only subdue them.

Answer 6

Iraq has Turkey on it's Northern Border. To the South is Saudi Arabia. Iran is to the east and Jordan, Lebanon and Syria are to the west. The Syrian Desert in Southern Iraq is along the border with Saudi Arabia. At Basra access into the Persian Gulf by way of Kuwait.
If the Sunni move to Basra in Southern Iraq and the US forces move to the North and defend the Kurds. Then the Shiite's would have no one to kill. About 100 a week foreign fighters are coming into Iraq by way of Syria. The Kurds should stop this and guard that border.

Answer 7

You very obviously do have a set opinion. Being a politician has nothing to do with that. Most politicians blow with the current opinion wind that will get them elected. Your continual use of the pronoun I makes you a prime candidate to become a politician.

The option that will most likely work is the option that most American citizens are not going to support. That is: staying in for the long term. This is what has worked in other countries (Germany, Korea). Pulling out is nonsensical and would be a total blunder militarily, diplomatically, and security wise. But then, those of you with "no set opinion" refuse to be guided by logic.

Answer 8

avery has got it right there are no more troops. The iraqi goverment is backed by shiite/iranian militia, the kurds will be sold down the river, Iran/syria move in and we'd better build missle defence and warn states that all involvement in terrorism against us will result in immediate retaliation. The geneva Convention must be ammended to make it clear that civilian populations will be responsible for war crimes launched from their midst

Answer 9

This has already been said, But One more time won't hurt.....Let the military do what we do! Break things! blow it up, and then rebuild it. Just sending more troops back isn't going to accomplish much if there is little for them to do what they were trained to do.....Pulling troops out and letting the country figure things out on their own is not only against what this country stands for and believes in, but would be a disgrace to the US and Our men and women that serve it, worldwide.

Answer 10

Dumbya will "roll out" the BRAND new shiny glowing super slick market tested product called "Stay the Course 2 Improved Plus with Vitamins!!!" Or given the size of Dumbya's ego, HE could volunteer to serve out the rest of his unfulfilled Air Guard obligation in Iraq and win HIS OWN war single handed like Rambo.... Naaaaa not the Chickenhawk-in-Chief. Down with Dictator Dumbya!!!