Leaving Iraq

[Onkel Neal]

http://www.slate.com/id/2221404/

What will happen when U.S. combat troops withdraw?



By June 30, all U.S. combat troops are scheduled—in fact, they're required—to be withdrawn from all of Iraq's cities, towns, and villages.
Many Americans and Iraqis fear that the progress achieved in the last couple of years—the dramatic reduction of violence and casualties, the growing sense of security in areas that were once soaking with dread and bloodshed—will be eroded and reversed, perhaps completely.

Well, I'm not looking forward to hearing reports of increased violence. The US troop pullback was agreed on before Obama, as the article says, so leave him out of this.

It's been a long hard slog for the people of Iraq and US/British/allied troops, and a lot of progress has been made towards a sovereign, democratic state where previously there was a dictator. Let's hope the Iraqi govt. has the situation in hand.

[AVGWarhawk]

I guess we will not know if violence will return if the troops withdraw until we actually withdraw. Perhaps it is time to cut and run. Let see how it goes. Really, this was coming and I guess tomorrow is as good a day as any. Let's hope peace remains.

[Dowly]

Hmm... dramatic reduction violence and casualties?

There's still alot of suicide bombers/IEDs that kill ppl. It's not many days in a week that I dont see news of another 20 or so civilians blown to heck by them.

Oh well, let's hope for the best.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Dowly

Hmm... dramatic reduction violence and casualties?

There's still alot of suicide bombers/IEDs that kill ppl. It's not many days in a week that I dont see news of another 20 or so civilians blown to heck by them.

Oh well, let's hope for the best.

Well, it is no worse than some cities here in the USA Dowly. Just a different method of killing unfortunately.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Well, it is no worse than some cities here in the USA Dowly. Just a different method of killing unfortunately.

Ya, but the difference is that anyone knows USA is doomed, Iraq might have a chance.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Dowly

Ya, but the difference is that anyone knows USA is doomed, Iraq might have a chance.

I'm beginning to believe that

[GoldenRivet]

Originally Posted by Dowly

Oh well, let's hope for the best.

I think this is the current official policy.



leadership a year ago... as well as the current leadership were / are far too anxious to brush their hands off and say "see America... that wasn't so bad now was it? arn't you glad we are done with that!?"

unfortunately, i view the current Iraqi government as being a fawn taking its first awkward steps on trembling legs. (understandably so)

i think when you have a well organized terrorist element in the country - you might as well have that fawn squarely in a hunter's rifle scope.

i hope my views are mistaken.

but im doubtful of that

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

I think this is the current official policy.

In all honesty, what are the options?

Root out the terrorists? Good luck in that, you'll be in iraq & afghanistan still in 2050. It is just impossible task to do.

Keep presence there? It helps, but it wont stop the terrorists entirely. One could even think that the recent decrease in violence is because the terrorists know US is pulling out and that they "have pushed the invaders out". Nobody knows how it would be, if there wouldnt be a set date for US to get out of Iraq.