Will setting a hard pullout date for Iraq really matter?

Question

Bush says setting a hard pullout date will embolden terrorists who will make plans to step up their attacks after U.S. troops leave. But, won't it be obvious when we are leaving if a date is announced or not? You can't pull 160,000 troops out at once. It takes time. It will be obvious we are leaving even if a date is not announced. Do you think the terrorists will just suddenly wake up one day and say, "Oh, sh*t! They're gone!" Puh-leeze!

Answer 1

I think setting a date will embolden attacks until or up to just before we leave and could end like vietnam, with rebels killing others including men women and children

Answer 2

The point President Bush and other are making is that a date driven schedule is counter-productive. The timing by which coalition troops are redeployed should be event driven. When Iraqi forces are able to effectively secure and defend a region, control of that region should be turned over to the Iraqis. Once all regions of Iraqi are under the control of Iraqi forces, then it will be time to redeploy that last of the coalition forces. Done this way, it won't matter if the insurgents know we're leaving.