Why so worried?

Question

Why are people so worried about discussing troop withdrawl openly?

The "enemy" already knows the US cannot and will not stay forever, it's not like we will be there one day and "poof!" we're gone the next.

We are so involved over there that it'll be known way in advance that we are pulling out; simple logistics dictates that.

So, should people stop with the "you can't talk openly about a withdrawl date" talk? In my humble opinion, the Iraqi government won't "stand up" until they realize the U.S. crutch is pulling out.

Jeff M - In what way?

Skip G - Huh? Try reading my question one more time.

Skip G - Oh boy, you've got me askeerd now!

Answer 1

This is an extract from an email written by a serving British Army officer in Iraq, giving his thoughts on why they are still in Iraq. He asked to remain anonymous

"There is a widespread, and well-sourced, belief based on both experience and evidence, in both the British military and academia, that the US is not "just in Iraq to keep the peace, regardless of what the troops on the ground believe. It is in Iraq to establish a client state amenable to the requirements of US realpolitik in a key, oil-rich region. To doubt this is to be ignorant of the motives that have guided US foreign policy in the post-war period* and a mountain of evidence since 2003."

That the invasion was 'illegal, immoral and unwinnable', and the 'greatest foreign policy blunder since Suez' - to paraphrase the Liberal Democrats - is the overwhelming feeling of many of my peers, and they speak of loathsome six-month tours, during which they led patrols with dread and fear, reluctantly providing target practice for insurgents, senselessly haemorrhaging casualties, and squandering soldiers' lives, as part of Bush's vain attempt to delay the inevitable Anglo-US rout until after the next US election.

Given a free choice most of us would never have invaded Iraq, and certainly would have withdrawn long ago. Hopefully, Tony Blairs's handover to Gordon Brown will herald a change of policy, and rapid withdrawal, but skewed pro-US coverage inhibits proper public debate, and is deeply unhealthy; lethally-so to many of us deployed to Iraq.

The [inadvertent] dangers of bias of embedded journalism are well known and there is a risk that the 'official line' can be conflated with evidence and facts. Jon Snow graphically demonstrated the effect of this during the initial invasion of Iraq in his programme The True Face of War**. I am conscious that reporting independently, outside of the 'green zone' in Iraq is nigh on impossible, but I would merely request that the 'official line/White House propaganda' be handled with an appropriate degree of scepticism, and be caveated accordingly.

In reply to arcticchick:

The fact that both ppl you mention are closely involved with the "official line/White House" doesn't invalidate the points made above

Answer 2

They Can Have Troops There Untill The End Of The World. It Doesnt Have To Be The Same Troops They Could Deploy Different Ones Every 6 Months. All The Troops Dont Have To Leave And Probably Will Never Leave. And Dude Believe Me I Dont Want Troops There Its Just Always A Possibility..

Answer 3

You need to understand the mindset of those who will kill themselves in order to demoralize the other sides troops (Not win the war)

By Discussing a withdrawl time (publically, outside of the public eye would be reasonable). You give a timelimit on the enemy and it brings them hope. In warfare psychological warfare is just as important as physical. Currently the US is winning the physical war in Iraq. The terrorist are winning the psychological war (Outside of Iraq not inside inside the Iraqis are helping the Americans track down the insurgents)

The last time we faced a country who was killing themselves to fight Americans, Hiroshima and Nagasaki happened.

If we continue to give let the enemy win the psychological warfare it may become the only option left at some point.

Answer 4

Hey - I can find a letter saying just the opposite of the Brit:

~*~*~
Two weeks ago, as I was starting my sixth month of duty in Iraq, I was forced to return to the USA for surgery for an injury I sustained prior to my deployment. With luck, I'll return to Iraq to finish my tour. I left Baghdad and a war that has every indication that we are winning, to return to a demoralized country much like the one I returned to in 1971 after my tour in Vietnam.

Maybe it's because I'll turn 60 years old in just four months, but I'm tired. I'm tired of spineless politicians, both Democrat and Republican who lack the courage, fortitude, and character to see these difficult tasks through. I'm tired of the hypocrisy of politicians who want to rewrite history when the going gets tough. I'm tired of the disingenuous clamor from those that claim they 'Support the Troops' by wanting them to 'Cut and Run' before victory is achieved. I'm tired of a mainstream media that can only focus on car bombs and casualty reports because they are too afraid to leave the safety of their hotels to report on the courage and success our brave men and women are having on the battlefield. I'm tired that so many Americans think you can rebuild a dictatorship into a democracy overnight. I'm tired that so many ignore the bravery of the Iraqi people to go to the voting booth and freely elect a Constitution and soon a permanent Parliament. I'm tired of the so called 'Elite Left' that prolongs this war by giving aid and comfort to our enemy, just as they did during the Vietnam War. I'm tired of antiwar protesters showing up at the funerals of our fallen soldiers. A family who's loved ones gave their life in a just and noble cause, only to be cruelly tormented on the funeral day by cowardly protesters is beyond shameful. I'm tired that my generation, the Baby Boom/Vietnam generation, who have such a weak backbone that they can't stomach seeing the difficult tasks through to victory. I'm tired that some are more concerned about the treatment of captives than they are the slaughter and beheading of our citizens and allies. I'm tired that when we find mass graves it is seldom reported by the press, but mistreat a prisoner and it is front page news.

Mostly, I'm tired that the people of this great nation didn't learn from history that there is no substitute for Victory.

Sincerely,

Joe Repya, Lieutenant Colonel, U. S. Army

~*~*~*~

Here's a story straight off of Yahoo news:

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military commander in one of the more troubled areas of Iraq said Friday that embracing Sen. John Warner's call to begin troop withdrawals before the end of the year would be "a giant step backward."

Army Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, commander of troops south of Baghdad, said that in such a scenario, militants pushed from his sector in recent operations would quickly return.

"If coalition soldiers were to leave, having fought hard for that terrain, having denied the enemy their sanctuaries, what'd happen is the enemy would come back," said Lynch.

~*~*~*~

With all due respect, I think we need to let the military decide what's best. It *is* their butts on the line, not ours.

Answer 5

Applaud, hands clapping, way to go and keep telling it like it is. We need to pull our troop's out of that $hithole NOW, how much longer must we continue to allow our military to be used as doormats that the Iraqi's continuously wipe their dirty feet on, NEVER have they showed any allegiance whatsoever towards our HEROIC son's and daughter's effort's, Al-Maliki is a two faced sleekit cowerin timorous beastie, and has NO B@LL$.

Answer 6

You are truly one of the stupidest people I have ever hear on YA, thinking that America can leave in one day, it can all happen that fast. It will at least be a year to remove America if we decide to quit (which you are suggesting). Your opinion is not humble, it is retarded. YOU ARE AN IDIOT AND A QUITTER, HOW IS THAT FOR AN EDIT-typical liberal, won't fight back-if you would like to debate, bring it on, i will crush your weak mind

Answer 7

Good point, Gil...Nothing is so scary that we shouldn't be able to discuss it! And withdrawing some troops does not mean we are pulling out, cutting and running or admitting defeat.

Answer 8

I'm game for a discussion anytime.

Troop withdrawl, by the way, is not surrender, as the neocons seem to term it.

Answer 9

What you really need is a clue.