Amen. Rarely is there an occasion where everyone in the politics forum can agree on something, but I think this is one of those occasions.

Still has to be passed by their parliament.

Damn it Karl!

good. Can we make it any sooner

One has to imagine that, once troops leave the cities in 2009, what would really be keeping them around for another two years to 2011. I think it'll be a pretty rapid withdrawal after the urban drawdown.

and then we wait to see what happens ^^^


Will the radicals and warlords come out just waiting for the Americans to leave and leave vast areas of the country outside of Govt Control.

Will there just be general chaos.


I believe there will be trouble but it will sort itself out like Vietnam.

The question is does America leave in Victory or defeat?

Well unlike Vietnam it has finally brought stability to the country so it will be seen as nothing really.


However, they should be cautious because trust me, if we just leave, Iran will dominate the country. The govt is weak...

They want us out. They voted for it. Whatever happens after we leave happens to them as a sovereign nation, good or ill and is no longer our responsibility.

gotta agree with beeble on this one

I personally like the proposal. The surge helped stabilize the violence, but nothing will come of this new government until that country sorts some things out on their own, and make no mistake, there are going to be bumps along the road.

They are decades away from being a functional democracy, and we need to understand that's OK.

As for Iran, the US would never let them invade, that's just stupidity. For better or worse, we are playing nanny in that region for at least the next 20 years.

I think the US will go the course of Vietnam anyways.

However Vietnam does not have a country like Iran around it though.


Do not forget that!!


What can be done? Of course the country should be left to deal with its problems, but the world's superpower cannot just start ignore the world after interfering in all of its affairs.

The thing is what we do know in the next 16 months in IRAQ could have such great macro historical effects for that region, for the better or for the worst.

All I call for is caution...

We marched quickly to war and made a mistake and suffered, leaving quickly can have the same result.

I think a 3 year pull out minimum...