Getting Started

I'm very pleased to read that this forum is entitled 'War in Iraq' instead of simply just 'The War' because with the way that the Bush administration has been presenting it since the start that it is one in the same with the war in Afgahnistan. There is huge difference between these conflicts..the biggest that comes to mind is that we were acutally JUSTIFIED in invading Afgahnistan. Iraq...not so much.

Responsible withdrawl and increased pressure on the Iraqi government are the only ways to deal with this problem. By using a timetable of phased withdrawl, we're giving the Iraqi government a chance to slowly increase its jurisdiction and responsibilty until we're completley gone. Obviously they're still going to be our ally, and if they need help down the road, the American government and global community will offer aid.

Downing Street Memo. 'Nough said.

Jacob,I agree with your idea of scaling back.I am however more agressive in my time table.I say 1 year or less.Our economy here at home is suffering greatly by the huge amounts of money spent to keep this war going.This is not a war that can be won.It can only be temporarily contained.The religious fighting has been going on for thousands of years & will remain so long as one than one faith exists.The only true way to stop this is through genocide,which is not a viable option.This will be like Vietnam.When our presents is gone the predominant power will assume the chain of command.

It's unfortunate that all of Iraq's oil lies in a region controlled exclusivly by one group, because it probably would have been a better situation if the three ethnic groups could have each had their own country. Again, a classic example of poor country lines drawn by the British Empire. However, the one year time table is only a best case scenario. If political revolution, anarchy or genocide begins, the United States, along with the UN, will need to increase their troop numbers to hault the destruction of a nation.

As for our economic strife, we can thank severe deregulation and tax loopholes for the corporate elite. War generally stimulates economies, but at the same time, tax cuts generally are given during war time. With the repeal of Bush's tax cuts on Americans making over 250,000 a year, and withdrawl from Iraq, our goverment will be able to restore order and balance the budget. We did it with Clinton in '93, and we'll do it again with Obama in '09.

ps.
Bill Clinton is a saint.