Should we begin to withdraw troops out of Iraq? Was the war in Iraq justified? Is the War in Iraq asuccess? What do you think would be the consequences of pulling out ofIraq right away, just bringing nearly everyone home within a month or so? Is that too fast? What would be the advantage of staying another 6 months? Of withdrawing more slowly and gradually? How many people have died since our occupation of Iraq? Is that too many considering the progresss that has been made? Or do you think the loss of life so far has been worth the end that's being pursued? Do you think it's possible for the United States to achieve their objectives in Iraq? How long will it take? Will the new Secretary of Defense do a better job than Donald Rumsfeld? With a Democratic majority in the house and Senate, will there be an immediate withdrawal? Any other thoughts on this issue?
Thanks for your comments. Dan
15 comments:
From Debra Porter:
Uhh, don't know who's question this is..
Well first I will tell you that I really dont keep up with the news and politics but I will tell you what I think based on what I know.
I think that for all the stuff that's happened in Iraq, what does the USA have to show of it except for more people hating Bush? I mean gas prices havn't gone down, nothing in our country has really changed, unless I'm missing something. I think the war, so far, is no a success.
I think that bringing people home right now might not be the best idea, in case Bush has some ideas that might actually happen in the near future. I know that the US military has troops all over the world, so Iraq really isn't any different. If we withdrew ALL of our troops from Iraq, I think it would be weird, seeing as other parts of the world would still have troops.
Id guess that probably 500,000 people have died including Americans, Iraqis, and whoever else has been invovled. But like I said I dont keep up with the news. I think that no ones lives have been worth it if we have nothing in our country to show for the dead.
I honestly don't think that if the US hasnt made any progress in Iraq this far, that they won't be making any progress ever.
Another thing with my not keeping up with the news, I dont know anything about the Secretary of Defense so I couldnt answer you there.
Thats about all my thoughts.
The troops in Iraq...a very touchy subject. This all originally started when we, the USA, were attacked on September 11th. Weapons of mass destruction? They have them somewhere...we just havent found them yet. How do I know they are there? well...they have been experimenting with them for decades.
I know everyone in here is old enough to remember the Desert Shield/Desert Storm conflict. My dad was sent over there when I was a little girl, and I didnt understand why daddy was going away, except that he was going to fight against the bad guys to protect me. PROTECT US!!! We were pulled out of there too soon, and now we are back there doing the same thing again. If we would have just got done what needed to be done,we wouldnt be over there again.
In Iraq, it was like a mini-holocaust with the people of Iraq. if a citizen didnt do what Saddam Hussan wanted, then they were killed, along with thier family. They would line up thousand of people and just shoot them into mass graves. How many people know that? People only hear about the war on TV and they only tell you what you want to hear.
People who speak out against the war have every right to, but when they start to insult the soldier and not respect them or when America is split and not supporting them, it enrages me. We need to support our country and our troops, even if we dont agree on why they are there.
If we were to pull everyone out of there right now, there would be a mass caos occur. The old government would come back to power and all those men and women who died will have died in vain. A much slower and more gradual evacuation of Iraq would be more appropriate, and it will take some time. We are there to protect the innocent people.
If you ask any soldier, they are proud to fighting to save our lives. None of them want to die, but they would gladly lay thier life down to save thier friends, families, or some complete stranger's life. Think about that for a while.
Bridgette Overmyer
I think that we should start to withdraw troops from Iraq because they aren't really do that much right now. Yes, they are keeping the country in line, but we have Saddam and he was their leader. So, I think while we have him in our watch, that I think troops should come home and see their families. The war in Iraq might be a success if we keep their government going. If we don't let Saddam free, and we keep his followers at a watch, then i think it has been a success. Whatever happened to Osma? We need to keep an eye on him too. I think we need to keep SOME troops over there because Saddam does have followers that want to be just like him and so they might try to take over the country. I think if we take out ALL of our troops, we have a greater chance of getting another attack and having their country fall back into the hole they were in before the war. I personally don't think their would be an advantage of staying longer, i mean nothing really has changed much over there, so i don't think another six months would change that much. We would just be keeping their government in tact longer. I don't think losing OUR soldiers was a good thing, I know we have done a lot for their government and stuff, but we shouldn't have lost soooo many soldiers like we have. I think it is very possible for the U.S the achieve their goals. If we keep the Saddam followers in order! That's all I know....I don't really know too much.
Sonja
This is from Stephanie Einck:
Honestly i really dont know a lot about what is going on in Iraq, so i will try my best to answer these :)
I think if we are being succesfull then they should allow some troops to start coming home, but have them on stand by and make sure if you need more then they are ready to leave and come back and fight again.
I think the war has been a success,were putting our foot down and not allowing anything to happen to us again. I think we are making a statement. I think if we get out to fast people will think it was stupid to even enter to begin with. I think you have to make sure everything is settled and finished before we just get up and walk out of war.
I think a lot of people have died while being over in Iraq and i feel bad for them and their families. I couldnt imagine losing a loved one and not getting to tell them goodbye or say I Love You one last time. I think it is possible for us to obtain the goals we went in and are trying to get. I think were putting pressure on the rest.
I think the War has put great pressure on people, i know that a lot of people think it is stupid. I guess i dont really know what to think, if it is helping them good, but if were just over there to be over there and injure people then i do agree with people and say it is stupid.
yes we should began to withdraw troops from iraq. i dont think the troops should have ever been sent top iraq.no the war was not justified. no it is not a success. I really dont think there would be a consequences. there wouldnt be any advantages. i really doont have any views on the war in iraq i feel president bush is just wasting time and money.To tell you the truth i really dont care about the whole war thing i'm not for wars so i dont pay ant attention to them.
Edwidge Philizaire
wow.... i think some people are missing the point a bit. We have instituted a completely new government system in Iraq, taken out their dictator, both of which the majority of the Iraqi people have been extremely grateful for. We are repairing cities and builting TONS of new schools and institutes for the citezens of Iraq... how can you say there's been no success? The quality of living in Iraq is skyrocketing. America doesn't ALWAYS have to think of ourselves all the time...
-Blake
"It's a fine mess you've gotten us into this time, Ollie." Wow. Ya know, I'm not even really sure why we ever got involved in the middle east at all. I mean, I know why we're over there now, but I'm talking about why are we over in that part of the world in the first place? Oh, sure, I know about the oil thing, but come on -- we have oil up in Alaska, and plenty down in South America, and we have people who have developed electric cars and alternative fuel cars...why do we need their oil? However, since we are already over there and have been for ages, and since they did commit an atrocity on our people on 9/11, I see no other choice than for us to be over in Iraq right now. Should we pull out now? No. Their government, or lack thereof, would not stand a chance of standing on its own. If we pulled out now, I think it would leave the door wide open for the next wave of terrorists to show themselves and pick up where Osama and Sudam left off. I think now that we have committed ourselves, we have to stick it out and see it through. I don't think that democrats will call for an immediate pull out. I think that any political party can see the disaster waiting to happen if we pull out now. Has the war been successful? Successful at what? What are we hoping to achieve over there? Could 9/11 happen again? Did we catch Osama? Have human rights improved in Iraq? Have we spanked the Iraqi people enough to make them never want to mess with us again? What are we hoping for? What is the REAL meaning behind all of this? What is a successful war? Are we in the middle of another Vietnam?
Stacie Carlson
I think the whole war and going to the army thing is stupid! We over there getting killed over some oil, and we are killing others when we should be making peace. Being all that you can be doesnt mean going over to another country and killing somebody, or getting yourself killed. If there was a draft i woulndt go to the army, i rather go to jail then be putting my life on the line for some oil and not my people. If this war is so important and that serious, why want the president send his daughters over there to fight, better yet him?
Fabion HArris
I will be the first to say that I don’t like conflict and I don’t like war. I don’t even pretend to understand it completely. However, there is a difference between not liking something and realizing that sometimes it is necessary. I don’t like the fact that there are horrible, evil people dictating over countries and killing massive amounts of their countrie's people every day for things such as speaking out against their rulers, practicing the "wrong" religion, pursuing an education, etc. People were tortured and killed daily in Iraq by their leader before the US stepped in. Some people say we should mind our own business. I have trouble sleeping at night thinking about things that aren’t taken care of daily because people insist on “minding their own business.” I think that is a horrible attitude, but it is also the easy way out and often the way I take regarding issues I notice that need addressed. Because getting involved in trying to change something that is grossly wrong involves A LOT of time, energy, and money. Most of us are limited on the amount we have of any of those things, consequently we have to pick and choose our battles. I support the U.S. picking this battle. I find it unfortunate that we don’t have enough people willing to help fight this battle. I find it unfortunate that this has to even be a battle – but it is and I don’t believe the problem would have ever gone away. Eventually, I hope that the quality of life in Iraq will be better - I have read many accounts and stories where it already has (the news however, doesn't show us those stories!). You have to remember, many people were angry and questioning WWII. One of the results of that war was putting an end to Hitler’s leadership that was a part of the wrongful treatment, torture, and death of 6,000,000 Jewish People. There were approximately 302,000 U.S. solders killed fighting in WWII and about 130,000 non-combat US military deaths. I don’t think the war in Iraq has seen anything close to that in death totals. Today, we look back at WWII and celebrate the changes that were accomplished for the world because of that war, especially the changes for the Jewish people. I believe the same will be done someday concerning our battle in Iraq . I am thankful for the many lives of those willing to pick this battle for the rights of humanity around the world. Remember I don’t have all the facts, and some of my information could be and probably is misinformed. I apologize if I am.
Jan Baker left the comment at 7:11 am
I believe that we should begin to withdraw troops out of Iraq, but only a few groups at a time. Troops needs to stay in Iraq to make sure that the work we have done, stays done. The war in Iraq was justified. It needed to be done, but not necessarily in the way it was done. The war has made success, but not enough success to bring everyone home yet. I think the withdraw of troops should happen over the next 5 years. If all the troops withdraw immediately, I think the new government will fold and we'll be in the same mess we were when the war started. I know that there has been tons of casulaties, but it's all in the price of a war. I think if the military gets on focus, we will meet all out objectives in Iraq within a few years. I believe that the new secretary of state will help the situation in Iraq. Bringing in a fresh guy, with a fresh mind is exactly what we needed. I believe with a Democratic majority that the war will continue till it's all done.
Jeremy Lamb
From Barb Beals:
We should have never invaded Iraq. Weren't we going after Bin Ladin anyway? He's in Afghanistan. Shouldn't we be in Afghanistan? We got attacked on September 11 and we were justifiably blood thirsty. If we pull our troops out now what have we accomplished? Yes we sentenced Saddam Hussein to death by hanging so there's one less dictator in the world. I am glad for it for all of the pain and bloodshed he's caused. But we are making the world hate us at the same time. What I mean by that is that President Bush was preceeded by his dad the other President Bush. Seems to me that the son wanted to show off to his daddy what his daddy couldn't accomplish. Anyone remember Operation Desert Storm? Did anyone think it quite odd that when the elections a few years ago showed that Gore had won the stock market would rise, then when the media would say no Bush won the election the market would plummet? Did these countries know something we didn't? Seems to me like maybe we should pull our heads out of the sand and pay closer attention to what is really going on in the real world. Anyone see on the news two days ago that China just signed a peace treaty with Russia? Does that scare anyone? Or that Korea didn't care if they tested their nuclear warheads? What do these countries know that we don't? I think that we will invade Iran in the next few months, and that the troops in Iraq will just be detoured to Iran or Korea. Why do you think that Donald Rumsfeld resigned? Well, if I were to place a bet it would be so that he couldn't be accountable for the disaster he and Bush have created in the middle east. Those countries hate us, It's just a fact that we must live with; and honestly it's not like we like them all that much anyway. They have gas and we want it.
I believe the way things stand right now,our troops need to remain in Iraq until the country is more stable.
I dont believe the war in Iraq was justified at all. Do I believe Saddam needed to be removed from power, yes I do, but the way we went about it was a lie.
About the only success we have gotten out of Iraq we have removed Saddam from power but the inter-tribal conflicts among the the different Iraqi groups are making the process of rebuliding harder than it has to be.
Pulling out of Iraq right now would mean, civil war for the country. The Sunnis dont want the Kurds to have power and visa versa so if we left now it would be an all out blood bath to see who gets power in Iraq and more innocent lives lost.
As a former soldier I should know exactly how many lives have been lost, but I do not. At last I heard i believe is might have been around 2500 or so, but that may be much higher or lower.Unfortunatley no life should have to end, but its a fact of life. Every soldier who singes his/her name on the dotted line knows whats they're getting into. I wish we hadnt lost any lives in Iraq, but I beleive the untimate safracfice that so many have gave will in the end better a country for so many who have been oppressed for so long.
I'm not sure about the new Sec of Defense, but I'm pretty sure he will stay the course that Rumsfeld started, at least until the 2008 Elections.
Just my thoughts for ya.
Former SSgt Ben Rogers
It's hard to say wether someone else will do a better job than someone who is currently stepping down from a position. I think the new Secretary of Defense has to want to do a better job to start, but given his resume he sure looks good on paper. It seems to me that the President has a hard time not hiring his boys versus people who are simply qualified for the job. Donald Rumsfeld is an example of that theory gone terribly wrong. Iraq needs to step up to the plate and accept ownership of their government. A new private fresh out of bootcamp can go straight to war in this country, so Iraq should be able to defend their grounds as well. We've been training them far too long, and it is wearing on the American people.
James Johnson
While I don't like troops being over there, mainly because I don't think we are doing much, I think we had a reason to go there in the beginning. We shouldn't let another country walk all over us, otherwise they will keep attacking us. Granted, they probably will attack us anyway, no matter what we do, just becuse of pure hatred. I think the troops have been over there too long. I don't really know how many people have died while being in Iraq. Any amount is too many. It's a horrible thing to say that the loss of life is worth what is being pursued. I don't really know much of what is going on while over there, but the loss of life is most likely not going to be worth it.
Caitlin Parker
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