exactly... good post

 

What does that have to do with Iraq? Do you think radical Islam will hate the USA less after we leave? They would see our pullout as US weakness, just like they did after Somalia. Don't take my word for it--read the bipartisan 9/11 commission report, page 48.

These radicals don't understand anything other than strength. They have a timeline measured in decades, not years.

Grim

 

I think you grossly misunderstand the goals of radical Islam. Appeasement is never going to work against these people. Other than normal commerce, we left the Islamic world pretty much on their own from the '40s to the late '70s. Look what they got us.

Grim

 

There aren't terrorists there? Killing our troops? You really need to get a clue.

 

The idea is to tell the damn Iraqis when we are leaving.
They need to understand that we will bleed for them one more year and then no more.

These people have been fighting and killing each other for a thousand years.
I don't think you can 'turn it around' in 40 or 50 years.

It's a suckers bet.
The US will lose everything they throw into the pot.

It's not 'surrender' it's 'fold'.

 

Stealth, I think you have completely misunderstood my posts up to this point. Yes, our troops are fighting three groups of terrorists in Iraq. Yes, terrorists have killed some of our troops. However, our troops win EVERY engagement in Iraq. Violence in Iraq is down significantly since we shifted tactics (the "surge"). We need to keep fighting instead of running away.

Grim

 

What will happen when we leave? How will that make things better for us? It made things worse when we left Lebanon after the Beirut bombings, it made things worse after we left Somalia, and it would make things work if we fled Iraq and Afghanistan. Look at radical Japan in the '40s. Japan had been at war for thousands of years, made numerous suicide attacks on the USA and US allies, and had a radical religion that viewed the leader of Japan as a god. Compare that with Japan now.


Grim

 

I believe if we leave next year or 40 years from now the result will be the same.
The effect will be like removing your hand from a bucket of water, in '08 or in 2047.
Just think those 39 years could be put to better use.

 

 

I've got an even better idea.
Bring our troops home now and send Petrol over there.

 

so we are gonna pull our troops out and become isolationist and bury our heads in the sand? meanwhile the radical islam culture gains steam all over the region and europe and inflicts terror and hate all over the world? lots of similarities to the 1930s when good ole adolf was rising in power. we were isolationist then too. when did americans become such spineless people? its like we are becoming the greeks at the end of there run, all fat and happy and overindulging themselves, while there great empire colapses.....grow some backbone people and quit drinking the kool-aid!!!!!

 

Everyone likes to paint with a broad brush on this topic.

We have maintained a small force in Afghanistan for over five years in our 'Hunt For Osama Bin Laden' and hey I have no problem with that. We can hunt for him the next forty years.

As for Iraq, I believe it would be far cheaper to maintain two bases for airstrikes, one in North Iraq, one in Southern Iraq with the accompanying necessary ground support security.

They could reach any target in 9 minutes.
That is not isolationism.

 

thats an awesome idea raoul, but that isnt whats being proposed. "all troops out by march 08" is what the democrats want.....

 

Explain how our troops in Iraq....
...prevents radical islam culture from gaining steam in the Region
...and europe
...and stops terror and hate all over the world?

 

This is the art of negotiation.

Could this be a counter proposal from the White House? - YES.

Will it be? - NO.