A war we can win?

Question

In the end, the situation in Iraq remains grave. In particular, we still face huge hurdles on the political front. Iraqi politicians of all stripes continue to dawdle and maneuver for position against one another when major steps towards reconciliation — or at least accommodation — are needed. This cannot continue indefinitely. Otherwise, once we begin to downsize, important communities may not feel committed to the status quo, and Iraqi security forces may splinter along ethnic and religious lines.

How much longer should American troops keep fighting and dying to build a new Iraq while Iraqi leaders fail to do their part? And how much longer can we wear down our forces in this mission? These haunting questions underscore the reality that the surge cannot go on forever. But there is enough good happening on the battlefields of Iraq today that Congress should plan on sustaining the effort at least into 2008.

Answer 1

America is the best country in the world, and we need to support our president.

Answer 2

Unfortunately, no can answer your questions with any certainty. We certainly underestimated the hatred and blood lust between the different religious sects - and now we can only hope that a united, independent and free Iraq will be more important to them than age old hostilities.
As far as how long it might take - when we don't even know if the Iraqi people will ever unite in an effort to bring about a semblance of stability, it's a tough call.
My guess - if the progress we are seeing now doesn't continue - and improve - then perhaps the Iraqi people are more concerned with their individual ethnic and religious priorities than their country, and that's when we should leave.
We can give the people all of the military and humanitarian aid we can muster, but if they are not willing to stand up for their own rights and freedoms, all of our efforts will be doomed to failure.

Answer 3

Iraqi security forces are already splitting along ethnic and religious lines!

If Iraq agreed to Bush's Iraq Hydrocarbon Act (in the 18 benchmarks) and opened the oilfields to foreign competition we would draw out troops immediately!!

Bet me!

Answer 4

That's quite a leap from"

"Major combat operations in Iraq have ended"
"Mission Accomplished"
"Bring 'em on"
"The insurgents ar just a few dead-enders"
"All we need is three more months - (repeated every three months for the past 4 and a half years)"

To "Gee we might win this war, if only we had a competent president who knew who we are fighting against and why they are fighting us".

Answer 5

No one side can truly 'win' a war.

Because the only winning move

is not to play.

(Jeremy R, first of all, you spelled my name wrong. Smooth move.

Second of all, WarGames is not a video game. It's a 1983 movie that made a very serious point, set in the late Cold War, where a hacker hacks into a secret computer and plays a game called 'Thermonuclear Warfare'. This 'game' launched virtual nukes at the US (The Computer) from the Soviet Union (The Hacker), alerting the very real United States NORAD HQ. In the end, the computer cracks the United States's nuclear launching systems and is about to launch the nukes when the hacker realises he has one last insane idea-- he still has access to one game left on the computer; Tic-Tac-Toe. He starts a game, and tells the computer to play against itself. The computer, knowing it's own moves and moves to prevent losing, but in the process ties every single game, comes up with a single conclusion: "The only winning move in war is not to play."

If you, Jeremy R, think that there isn't possible to learn a lesson from stories, then you, sir, are extremely stupid.)

Answer 6

At what point, what guidelines, what accomplishments, is this government waiting for, before it begins to pull troops out??
I agree with you in that, we shouldn't remain there, if iraq officials refuse to do their jobs.
2008 would be great, however, i don't see that happening, at least not as long as Bush is in command.

Answer 7

"Battlefields"???? Where, exactly, do you think this so-called "war" is being fought? It is in the neighborhoods, the schools, the churches and the mosques--the stores, and the shops, and anywhere people with families want to and need to go every day!! We have decimated the country, and left it in shambles, and the Bushies keep saying, "better there than here." I'm sick of it!! NOW!

Answer 8

This is not a war in which anyone will "win". This has turned out to be the Vietnam of my generation and it's ridiculous that we have put ourselves in this position again. My guess is that in 20 years this is going to be remembered as "The American War in Iraq"

Answer 9

So for those that say we will lose this war, do we need to hold a surrender party and invite Obama? Do you really want the picture of our brave military getting down on their knees and asking Obama for the terms of our surrender? Harry Reid would gladly get down and kiss the feet of Obama.
I say we keep on keeping on and continue to take the fight to them! USA rocks!

Answer 10

There's no way we can think of leaving without "glassing" the place after we are gone. To do otherwise would be national suicide. Press for withdrawl if you like, but what happens right after we leave is gonna get you howling so loud, even you will get sick of listening to yourself.

Answer 11

Yes, we can win!!!
Just keep the Faith!!
Just remember - this is not a battle of flesh and blood, but of Good Vs. Evil!!

Just ask yourself -

Do we want the bad guys to win?

EDIT:

Twenty,

This is not a video game we are playing now, this is REALITY dude, WAKE UP!!!