Exit strategy for Iraq

[Dr. Blutarsky]

There are a lot of people who are not happy with the way Bush has handled the war in Iraq. Most complain but don't offer any course of action we could take contrary to what we are currently doing. Pulling all the troops out now is not a realistic exit strategy. First of all you can't put 161,000 troops on a boat tomorrow. Many political threads here not even associated with the topic turn into bitching sessions and personal attacks against each other, which really shows ignorance.? So instead of compaining or saying Bush is the devil or the USA is really responsible for all the problems in the world, etc. spare us the bullshit.

I think we need more specialists to recruit and train the Iraqis to take over for our troops and? rotate out our forces while their forces are brought up to an effective level. This needs to be on a more accellerated level than is happening now. Leaving before adequite Iraqi forces can be trained would allow the terrorists to overrun the new government would be a disaster and a huge threat for all western society, not just the US. We can't be there for the Iraqis forever and they need to understand that if they want a chance of a better life in a democracy where they have a say, they need to fight for it.

Your thoughts?

(lets try to keep it civil)

[Booker Floyd]

Russ Feingold has offered a plan.? John Kerry has offered a plan...You might not agree with them, but you can no longer fault Democrats for not offering an alternative to the current plan, which doesnt seem to be much of a plan at all.? If youre frightened by proposing a timetable for exit, then when can we leave?? Because in order to leave, we must have a timetable to do so.? If we fear an insurgent response to a timetable now, whats going to change that in five years from now?? In five years, terrorists and insurgents will still be present in Iraq - they might even be stronger.? You could speculate that the Iraq forces will also be much stronger, and you might be right...though from what I understand, the current rate of training capable forces isnt very encouraging.? And lets say five years from now were confident enough in Iraqs military capabilities and finally leave (thats being overly optimistic, I think).? What happens if they really cant handle the following insurgency?? Or if theres a civil war?? Do we then go back in?

Im inclined to withdraw as soon as possible, but a timetable will at least give Iraqis the incentive to get things in order as fast as they possibly can.?

I also want to make it clear that just because were there now, etc. does not mean we should forget about how and why we got there.? This administration shouldnt be exempt from accountability simply because were there.? Serious investigations into the wars run-up should be held.

[Dr. Blutarsky]

Russ Feingold has offered a plan.? John Kerry has offered a plan...You might not agree with them, but you can no longer fault Democrats for not offering an alternative to the current plan, which doesnt seem to be much of a plan at all.? If youre frightened by proposing a timetable for exit, then when can we leave?? Because in order to leave, we must have a timetable to do so.? If we fear an insurgent response to a timetable now, whats going to change that in five years from now?? In five years, terrorists and insurgents will still be present in Iraq - they might even be stronger.? You could speculate that the Iraq forces will also be much stronger, and you might be right...though from what I understand, the current rate of training capable forces isnt very encouraging.? And lets say five years from now were confident enough in Iraqs military capabilities and finally leave (thats being overly optimistic, I think).? What happens if they really cant handle the following insurgency?? Or if theres a civil war?? Do we then go back in?

Im inclined to withdraw as soon as possible, but a timetable will at least give Iraqis the incentive to get things in order as fast as they possibly can.?

I also want to make it clear that just because were there now, etc. does not mean we should forget about how and why we got there.? This administration shouldnt be exempt from accountability simply because were there.? Serious investigations into the wars run-up should be held.

By Feingold saying we need to have all our troops out by 2006, is not a plan. It is simply setting a deadline. Kerry actually offered a course of action in his remarks. Too bad for him he diddn't come up with that last year since he couldn't offer any actual solution durning the presidential campaign. I think we should set some kind of timetable as a goal for the Iraqis to push for, but not make it public so the insurgents sit it out untill we leave.

[SLCPUNK]

By Feingold saying we need to have all our troops out by 2006, is not a plan. It is simply setting a deadline. Kerry actually offered a course of action in his remarks. I think we should set some kind of timetable as a goal for the Iraqis to push for, but not make it public so the insurgents sit it out untill we leave.

You guys saying more of the same....also, is not a plan!

[Dr. Blutarsky]

By Feingold saying we need to have all our troops out by 2006, is not a plan. It is simply setting a deadline. Kerry actually offered a course of action in his remarks. I think we should set some kind of timetable as a goal for the Iraqis to push for, but not make it public so the insurgents sit it out untill we leave.

You guys saying more of the same....also, is not a plan!

What is your solution besides being critical?

[SLCPUNK]

By Feingold saying we need to have all our troops out by 2006, is not a plan. It is simply setting a deadline. Kerry actually offered a course of action in his remarks. I think we should set some kind of timetable as a goal for the Iraqis to push for, but not make it public so the insurgents sit it out untill we leave.

You guys saying more of the same....also, is not a plan!

What is your solution besides being critical?

So if you answer it is not critical, but if I do, it is then? Oh...ok then.

My solution has been offered up twice. Ignored both times, probably because those reading it didn't truly know enough about the region, people and events to comment on it.

[Dr. Blutarsky]

By Feingold saying we need to have all our troops out by 2006, is not a plan. It is simply setting a deadline. Kerry actually offered a course of action in his remarks. I think we should set some kind of timetable as a goal for the Iraqis to push for, but not make it public so the insurgents sit it out untill we leave.

You guys saying more of the same....also, is not a plan!

What is your solution besides being critical?

So if you answer it is not critical, but if I do, it is then? Oh...ok then.

My solution has been offered up twice. Ignored both times, probably because those reading it didn't truly know enough about the region, people and events to comment on it.

Lets hear your solution again for those of us that are unfamilliar with it. My point with this topic was not to get into back and forth bullshit, but a thread dedicated to different opinions on how we can get out of Iraq feasibly.  So what is your solution? We have a whole thread dedicated to exit strategies, this would be the place to post it again.

[Surfrider]

I actually think the most sensible thing would be to do what I heard O'Reilly say.? I think we give it another year and a half to try and train the Iraqis.? If by that time we don't have enough trained, or aren't making substantial process, I think we cut and run.? I think it is a little premature considering they just voted on the Constitution.? But after a year and a half I think we should be through.? If we haven't trained enough Iraqis by that point it is not going to happen.? I tend to agree with those that say publicly setting a strict deadline would be a mistake.? However, unless a public deadline is made, Bush will continue to get hammered that he has no plan to exit Iraq.? From that standpoint I think he is in a no win situation.

[SLCPUNK]

 My point with this topic was not to get into back and forth bullshit, but a thread dedicated to different opinions on how we can get out of Iraq feasibly. 

Yet your second post in this thread was BS. Go figure.

[Dr. Blutarsky]

O'Reilly has some valid points. The Iraqis really need to step up, I think we all can agree with that.

I'm not gonna get into a pissing match with ya SLC. Find someone else to pick an arguement with.

[Axl_owns_dexter]

Until they have a reasonable amount of troops trained, how can we justify leaving?  When that time arrives, we will leave. 

[Axl_owns_dexter]

SLC, what is your plan?  I haven't heard it.

[SLCPUNK]

Until they have a reasonable amount of troops trained, how can we justify leaving?  When that time arrives, we will leave. 

We have less trained now then projected earlier. If I remember reading right. Not too hot this moment.

[Axl_owns_dexter]

So what is your plan?

[pilferk]

We JUST, and I mean JUST, covered this in the Hillary Clinton thread.

For links to posts about my suggestion for an exit strategy, go there.

I think SLC's suggestion might have been transplanted there, as well.  I'm not sure....

[jarmo]

Use the search.

This is boring.



/jarmo