You have to view calls for the withdrawal of American troops in the light of the fact that the President continues to disregard these ‘moderate’ solutions as advocated by the ISG and others. This site is another demonstration of how being ‘reasonable’ is often used as a figleaf for doing nothing in Iraq.

Believe me, I understand that US withdrawal may be followed by horrible atrocities. I simply don’t believe that our presence will prevent them- the precipitating event for massive destruction in Iraq isn’t the US withdrawal but the US invasion 3.5 years ago.

I no longer agree that we should stay in Iraq because, as I said before, I don’t believe our soldiers should die for their relgious craziness. If the people were begging us to stay to protect them from their crazed clerics or from the terrorists, that would be different, but it appears they are not. So, let’s just get the hell out in the best manner possible. The fact that Bush and the advisors he listened to did not take this into consideration at the start of the war was a major major mistake.

Bush knows the American public wants out of Iraq, but at this point he has to figure out the best way to get us out using the best advice available. I’m not a military strategist but it looks to me like the help of neighboring countries will be the key. They don’t want the refugees and they don’t want the entire area to erupt in sectarian war. I think there’s even a ray of hope with Iran as the people booted out all of Amajedine’s (sp? to lazy to look) supporters. Certainly Bush has to be working with these other countries on the best way to handle the situation and that can’t be done overnight.

You have stated that you believe this war was an error. What does that mean? Staying in Iraq hoping for a miracle to save us is simply not a responsible policy. I’m not calling for American troops to pack their bags today but there is no reason for American troops to stand in the middle of a civil war. Reagan knew that in Lebanon, Clinton knew that in Somalia, we all know that about Iraq.

For the record Reid says:
“If the commanders on the ground said this is just for a short period of time, we’ll go along with that,” said Reid, D-Nev., citing a time frame such as two months to three months. But a period of 18 months to 24 months would be too long, he said.

“The American people will not allow this war to go on as it has. It simply is a war that will not be won militarily. It can only be won politically,” Reid said.

I could support that policy but since the military does not it it’s a moot point.

Regarding the ISG- yeah there probably is vanity: the vanity the comes from thinking that the President is going to listen to their recommendations when he has made it abundantly clear that he won’t. Furthermore, they went out of their way to select only members for the commission who were wrong about the war in the first place.

As for previous wars in the 20th Century:
Seriously? I’m willing to offer condemnation of Woodrow Wilson if you want but I didn’t think it was a pressing issue. FWIW, I don’t blame Roosevelt for being attacked by the Japanese.

I really find it quite disturbing that so Democrats hate this President. I don’t think they’d have to look too far back in history to see that most of the recent wars in this country were initiated under Democratic Presidents.

We agree that it requires a special sacrifice to put your life at risk for one’s country. I wish the leadership of this country honored that sacrifice by not carelessly wasting the lives of Americans when there is no plan for victory. As you may have heard, the Joint Chiefs of Staff unanimously reject the proposition of a surge of American troops into Iraq as pointless.

It’s funny how people like Pat Conroy grow braver when it is no longer their own life put in danger when she is wrong.