Should we stay in Iraq or leave?

Answer 1

Before I answer this question, I'd like to bring up something that really bothers me deeply concerning Iraq, would we be so regretful if we had successfully converted Iraq to a democracy with complete peace?

The question I have been screaming BEFORE the war started has been, "Does the means justfiy the end?" What if this end had been a success? Would most be sitting around feeling good about America?... feeling good about themselves? ... even though current civilian Iraqi body count is over 600k?... even though we never had a valid nor justiable reason to occupy Iraq?...

Of course you know my feelings on this... immoral means never justfiy an end even if that end is successful. What about all those ppl that have died? What about the loyal, committed soldiers that followed their country's orders... not just American soldiers btw.

So once again, we should not take any pride in any way, shape or manner for our leader's invasion of Iraq.

Is there ever a time to take pride in participating in a war? I think so. I did an Army tour in the mid-80s then when Saddam invaded Kuwait, one of our allies, I volunteered to come out of inactive status to participate. Why? Because I truly thought we, as a WORLD, had progressed past the days of barbaric occupations of invading just because you are stronger than the other guy. I took pride in that war because I compared it to a bully beating up a little child... that we were fighting the bully. Now, we are the bully.

I can't begin to describe in words the disappointment I have in my country due to our actions. And what gets me now is the length of time it took ppl to come to this realization. I was a voice from the beginning saying it was wrong... most of these ppl against it now were the ones in 2003 with those ribbons on the back of their mini-vans, American flags outside their homes... telling me I was anti-American or unpatriotic for not supporting my president.

I'm serious. How many of you out there reading this either didn't have an opinion or was pro-Iraqi war because you thought it was going to be a cake walk? You were so sure we would just walk over the Iraqis and be the WINNERS. You never stopped to ask about our reasons... were they justified. America is going to war and we are going to kick some *** then come home like nothing winning.. showing the world 'who we are'.

For example, that Cindy Shehan (spelling) that camped outside of Bush's home in Texas in protest of the war AFTER her son died in Iraq. Where was her protest before her son died? I'd be willing to bet that up to that point, she was one of those ppl driving those mini-vans proudly with the ribbons on the back before that.

Some ppl compare Iraq to Vietnam. While I see some comparisons, believe it or not, Vietnam at least had a reason. Vietnam was about containment. Containment is a word used to describe the stopping of the spreading of communism of that era. While I never saw how the spread of communism threatens us, at least they gave us a real,honest reason.

Now to get the core of your question... what should we do now, knowing what we know now about the lies?

Up to a month ago, I was on the fence about this. I literally could not decide. On one hand, I don'f feel good about making a mess of their country, the 100,000s that have died then leaving them to somehow find a way. On the other hand, I was thinking we couldn't win... win in terms of ever helping those ppl to 'get along' in a civil manner.

I have since, just in the past few days, come to a realization... we need to get out. Why and what caused my choice, decision?

It all came together for me a when I read about some Shiites that had kidnapped 25 sunnis, took them into the streets and then burned them alive. Not only did they do this, Iraqi troops stood by and watched and an American helicopter patrolling took no action.

This action was not the reason I made my decision but it is what caused me to sit down and do some deep thinking... how or what made Iraqi get to that point?... not just killing each other in a civil war but my God, literally torturing each other in the streets in the most brutal manner possible... right in front of women, children, etc...

We are not talking about terrorists... we are not talking about insurgents.... these are the Iraqi civilians that we are there to help build a civilized democracy. Their level of discontent is beyond most American's imagination... that was part of my thoughts in my analysis.

In conclusion and to get to the point of my answer, we need to get out for two reasons:
1. We can not solve their civil war.
2. We are making it worse by being there.

#2 is the most important reason for withdrawal. We turned their country upside down and caused 100,000s of them to die. If I thought for half a second we could fix what we have done, I would be a 110% supporter to stay and fix it; but, that is not reality. The reality is that the longer we stay, the more they resent us, the more unrest there will be.

There is going to be a civil war whether we are there or not. Because we can not pick a side, there is nothing we can do to stop it.

Lastly, I am not saying that we pull a Vietnam and pull out without any assistance at all. I think we need to discontinue military support and start a humanitarian and financial support. Anybody can be bought. I think that is where we have failed with other groups such as Hamas. Hamas's animosity towards Israel comes mostly from their resenting Israel's success while they suffer an enormous unemployment rate. You can't tell me if we threw money at them, they wouldn't be more apt to chill out and at least listen.

With all this said, the core final solution to this problem is to divide Iraq into three states.

I watched on PBS where about 70% of Iraqis have moved from their homes into new areas in the past year.

So, since most of them have already moved, it's not like we would be uprooting them from their homes.

And since they are doing this on their own, I'd be willing to bet if we presented this solution to them where maybe we enforced their borders, I'd bet you money they would take the offer. Then after the borders were decided on.. which wouldn't be real easy but at least would probably temporarily move their focus from a civil war to this idea, then we could fund each segment.

Some might not like the idea of throwing money at them. I say it is a lot cheaper in the long run than paying billions for military action, it is a set answer and it saves lives on both sides.

One last point or note, many Washington analysts are saying we will not be in Iraq two more years. Why? They are saying there is no way the Republic party wants to be in Iraq when the next election comes around.

Answer 2

Stay. Period IF for the sake of argument the United States pulled all of its forces from Iraq within the next 3 to 6 months. The Iraq we know and see every day on CNN would be much much worse. Think of the fact that all the troops we have there are Maintaining a peace of sorts. How many people would die in sectarian violence after we were to leave and that country fall into a civil war. Which ever way you go on that think of the one other country there that has GRAND plans. When Iran gets involved then your going to have yourselves a merry little Christmas trying to decide which to send first the Air Force or the Marines to finish off what we left. Because once Iran is involved then you have a HUGE reason to go back over and wipe them all off the face of the earth. Because THEN IT WILL BE about oil and the fact its price jumped 8 dollars over night. Its a no win situation and BOTH Democrats know it. They cant get our Sons and Daughters out of Iraq any faster than they could 2 years ago when they weren't stumping for office.

Answer 3

There is really "no choice" but to stay, leaving could cause a big blood bath in Iraq, because of extremist from shite and Sunni factions. I really hope that Iraq can become stable, after watching news and TV of Iraq I admire the strengh of the people who are caught up in this mess and have nothing to do with any sectarian or terrorist acts. But, in the worlds eyes that would be seen as a weakness for the US, they have to stay. I say this deliberately because two of my sons are in Iraq, and they love the Iraq kids and generally the people who wants freedom.

Answer 4

Republicans will love this--

IF WERE NOT THERE TO STEAL THEIR OIL OR APPEASE OPEC'S NEED FOR A WEAK IRAQI OIL INDUSTRY, THE WE NEED TO ABORT!

A phased withdrawal of all personnel--let the countries bordering Iraq who should have more of a vested interest in what happens provide the necessary policing authority. Having our guys killed and killing those who are only being patriotic is like when England sent the Red-coats over here in the 1700'S. We know from history what the ultimate rationale for England backing down was, HEY W--GET THE HINT!!

Answer 5

what is the hope of AMERICA to stay in Iraq now?,,,,,i still fail to see what short term or long term gain ,the Iraq,s will benefit from ,,as it is civil war now,,,i will say stay only if their is a real gain for the Iraq people,,,for America as the situation is ,i say leave,,,,civilian

Answer 6

I'm not American but I think is better that they should stay because terrorists think USA is weakest and be unsafe. Most dangerous countries:Russia(KGB-president)China(bomb pretending firework), India, North Korea(they want meat now not only grass), all Muslims countries(blind fanaticism-they can united in the future against christian countries and USA )Belarus, Ukraine( unity with Russia)Cuba, Indonesia .

Answer 7

We do not need to pull out. We need to stay the couse. Gerenal Patton said it the best "America loves a winner, and will not tolerate a loser, this is why America has never, and will never, lose a war.”, “Live for something rather than die for nothing.”, “You’re never beaten until you admit it.”. If we pull out the are admit that we had be beaten. Then the men and women would have died will have died in vain.

Answer 8

Ideally we could just leave and everything would be happy and great. However, things didn't go as planned (civil war) and we just can't leave...
Why you ask?
Well, the US is doing a good job of keeping the violence relatively contained. If we were to leave, there would probably be a six month or so period of absolutly horid violence, far worse than it is now. Probably half a million to a million or so Iraqis would be killed in that time.

Answer 9

we can't leave, we broke it and have to try to fix it. If we leave we will just have to go back in a decade. We managed to turn Iraq into a large Lebanon.
We leave everybody else that we don't like will try to move in.

Answer 10

People are dillusional if they think we can stay in Iraq indefinitely until we "win". We need to get as many troops out as soon as possible, we should not be there to referee a civil war. I'd venture to say the majority of people who say we need to "stay & win" have never served in the military and are ok with troops and civilians dying every day. It's time to get out.

Answer 11

If we stay we should kill every one we can and if we leave we should just do it and get out. If you watch the News at all you'll see there doing a good job of killing themselves off as it is.