If we are there as liberators...

[Dredly]

they why aren't we leaving?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,377721,00.html

"Iraq Insists on Withdrawal Timetable for U.S. Troops"

Based on the article they want us out... but we are staying and will not set a time table?

uhhh why? wtf are we doing over there and why, if the iraqi gov't is saying to leave aren't we? They are elected officials, elected by the people. lets pack up and get our boys home and let them rot in their own mess over there instead of making us clean it up for them.

oh and lets STOP GIVING THEM MONEY! They have oil, oil = money, let them rebuild on their own, it isn't helping us anyway

[mikepro8]

My opinion???

The US Military is gearing up and "practicing" for something bigger. The longer we stay there, the more troops get rotated into an active area, the more experience the troops get.

Now.... practicing for what is the question. Invasion and occupation of where? Or, occupation where? Here, after the oil prices go through the roof and the population goes nuts? Iran? much to ponder...

[SGTUSArmy]

Anyone thought that maybe what we have said all along is true?

That we are going to leave, but we can't set a date.

We aren't that stupid. Here's how it would happen if we set a date: We set the date, let's say Oct 1, 2009, all troops will be boots on ground outside of Iraq. It's July 9, 2008 now, all violence stops or at least subsides a good deal. We make a good withdrawal, we get our guys out without too many major engagements between now and then. We get the last guys out at 2359 on Sept 30, 2009.

0001 on Oct 1, 2009 all holy hell breaks out. The Shiites and the Suunis are up in arms, the militias are killing entire neighborhoods, and the fireball can be seen from as far away as Tel Aviv. Iran or someone else swoops in and takes over the country. They take everything we had worked to build up, and and uses it for their own good. All of the infrastructure, all of the communications we poured blood, sweat, and tears into rebuilding, they use it to fuel their own drive. All the defenses we helped them build back up.

The Iranian Army is now on the border of two of our closest "allies;" Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Neither one has a force strong enough to withstand a full-on frontal assault. That is what we would be looking at.

Israel goes ballistic, and launches nuclear preemptive strikes.

I know, worst case scenario, but if everyone else can use it, why can't I?

Ever thought that maybe, just maybe we want the Iraqi's to be able to police themselves without a huge genocide the moment we pull out?

Take it from someone who is next door. They are working to get their police and military forces up to snuff. They are working so we can pull our guys out. Having seen first hand some of the goings ons up there, there is lot to be accomplished before I would be comfortable enough for the US to back out. I know I am on one of the next rotations up to Iraq when I hit stateside. Fully aware of what is going on. But I also know that we have to finish what we started.

We cannot and should not leave them less than capable of dealing with their own issues. I do not care your views on us being there. Do not care about your views on us going in. We have to do the job right. We have to get the job done. and get it done the right way. The American Way. We did it in Belgium. We did it in Germany. We did it in Japan. We helped the French rebuild how many times? We helped Great Britain. Do we want the country worse or better than before.

Don't disgrace the deaths of my brothers and sisters in arms by saying we need to leave without getting the job done. Don't let them die in vain. They died trying to accomplish a mission. They died trying to help a country rebuild. Regardless of your political views, don't leave it unfinished.

[P89]

^^^There's the answer.^^^

[MTechnik]

I know, worst case scenario, but if everyone else can use it, why can't I?

Imaginary worst-case-scenarios are why we invaded in the first place. Why not use it as a reason to stay?

[arrrrgh15]

My opinion???

The US Military is gearing up and "practicing" for something bigger. The longer we stay there, the more troops get rotated into an active area, the more experience the troops get.

Now.... practicing for what is the question. Invasion and occupation of where? Or, occupation where? Here, after the oil prices go through the roof and the population goes nuts? Iran? much to ponder...

Although I don't think it's the main reason, this idea does have some merrit to it. I remember in the very early 90s (pre gulf war), watching a documentary on West Point and they had an officer that mentioned that at the time, the U.S. was nearing a point where we would have little to no soldiers with actual combat experience. (i.e., WWII, Korea, Vietnam vets retiring).

I think SGTUSArmy hit the nail on the head however.

With the price of oil and the global economy, I don't think it would be unrealistic to theorize that there will be a major conflict before the end of my lifetime over the worlds oil supplies. With China drilling offshore, gas at $4 and gallon (and will go up from there), and more strict environmental bunny hugger laws regulating domestic drilling impossible, I could see how desperation may set in.

Having a presence in the region, with seasoned, well trained troops might not be a bad thing in the long run. Even Obama is starting to sing a different tune on troop withdrawels.

I'm not much of a tin-foil hatter, but that's my theory.

[Pector55]

I agree with Army too. We are the big kid that just pulled up a desk between your buddy and that asshat in the corner who has been talking smack.

Also, along the lines with what Army said, we can gradually move ourselves to the outskirts fo the cities and continue to grow the internal policing abilities of the Iraqis to the point where they can control uprisings.