A new study is out on Iraq. Conclussion is that Iraqi's have the impression we are there to stay? ARE WE?

Question

Don't you think that was the White House's Plan All Along?

Answer 1

The Army, after the Clinton war on the military, is stretched thin even in this backwater, nation-building situation we are in. It is to everyone's benefit for the troops to return (although the Air Force may stay) as soon as the Iraqi government is stable. The original idea (as poorly conceived as that was) was to get in and get out - never to stay indefinitely. With a stable Iraq that is not a threat to its neighbors, there simply is no need for US troops there.

The study is nothing new and was what the former SecDef had been pushing (with criticism that forces were not LARGE enough) from the beginning. This has already failed once. For the plan to work, it would require the USA to double the size of Special Forces Command assets with about a 40% increase in DoD budget (a good idea that will not happen) and to institute counter-insurgency operations while basing the troops in the middle of the desert (like we did in Saudi Arabia) out of sight of most Iraqis but available on short notice. It would take at least two years to get enough elite troops available too so I believe the plan is a nice but unworkable idea.

Answer 2

Well that depends...-On who gets Elected next year. Bush can only keep us in Iraq for as long as He's in Office. But if we REALLY want "out" anytime in the next 20 years or so- maybe we should vote for someone who SHARES that idea. It's up to us. :)

Answer 3

If Bush has his way, we will never get out. He refuses to admit defeat and doesn't care how many more die or what the cost is.

Answer 4

hopefully. they have lots of oil, we need lots of oil. if we stick around maybe we can talk them into a good price

Answer 5

as long as they let us.