Do We Need to Leave Iraq Sooner Now?

[KenH]

With this disaster in New Orleans and the northern Gulf coast, do we need to withdraw troops from Iraq at a faster clip than what we thought? What have we spent already in Iraq - $280 billion or something of that magnitude? It may cost us that much to recover from this domestic disaster. I'm not sure we can afford both.

 

[LorrieGrace]

NO!

 

[Martin]

If we leave Iraq, what happens in Iraq?

The answer is probably a bloodbath and ethnic cleansing. We can't afford to leave.

Martin.

 

[LadyEagle]

A relative of mine just made that statement last night on the phone. Now we can leave with honor and dignity in the eyes of the world because our soldiers are needed on the home front. Our original mission has been accomplished. We have spent our national treasury in Iraq. We removed the dictator and gave the Iraqis their freedom, the chance to vote, and a skeleton of a Constitution and helped to rebuild their infrastructure. It is up to the Iraqi people to sort it out if they want freedom.

 

[KenH]

For those of you who do not want to speed up our withdrawal from Iraq, how do we pay for Iraq and Hurricane Katrina relief at the same time? Are you prepared to perhaps have your federal taxes go up by $200-250 per month to afford to do both without increasing the yearly federal deficit?

 

[LorrieGrace]

My husband has been in Iraq for a year. He told me that the Iraqis for the most part are not the ones that are the troublemakers and that they are grateful to the US. To leave Iraq would be a huge mistake on many fronts. Having the whole world know that we do not keep our word would be but only one.

It takes time trying to rebuild a community, whether in Iraq or in NO and the rest of the Gulf Coast.

 

[KenH]

I have a grandnephew currently in Iraq.

If it comes down to a choice of rebuilding America or rebuilding Iraq, then I choose America.

 

[Magnetic Poles]

Get out of Iraq NOW!

 

[LorrieGrace]

I want to rebuild America, too. But we cannot just desert the mission over in Iraq.

 

[KenH]

Originally posted by LorrieGrace:
But we cannot just desert the mission over in Iraq.

But we can start scaling it back and be pretty much out of there by this time next year.

 

[just-want-peace]

Get rid of the pork projects, and the $ won't be that much of a problem!

Get rid of at least half of all the alphabet agencies and ditto!

It's time for the gov't to get back to it's basic constitutional role and cease to be the teat for the masses!

 

[Priscilla Ann]

Ken:

I agree with you. We should speed up the withdrawal in Iraq. Unfortunately, we have a record deficit, and we cannot continue to spend as if we have unlimited resources. We must take care of those people in our country who have been devastated by Hurricane Katrina. If we don't take care of our own people in need, who will?

PA

 

[church mouse guy]

Originally posted by LorrieGrace:
I want to rebuild America, too. But we cannot just desert the mission over in Iraq.

Hang in there. The GOP is deserting the President in order to be on the winning side of the popularity contest. Nothing matters now except to be on the winning side. You are going to see the true colors of the religious right now as they savage their own before the Congressional hearings in order to side with the winners in the political windfall of this tragedy. The political winners from Katrina are the Democrats and the third parties.

 

[Bluefalcon]

If nuclear bombs are ever detonated on American soil, we will see human depravity at a level New Orleans is only giving us an image of right now. And we'll need more than just the National Guard to restore order.

 

[El_Guero]

A one trillion dollar attack upon our soil sent us to Iraq.

Personally, I don't want to go through a second attack like the twin towers during the next decade. (if ever)

I vote that we take care of our troops and pull them home as soon as it is safely possible.

 

[OldRegular]

No!

 

[Phillip]

Originally posted by LadyEagle:
A relative of mine just made that statement last night on the phone. Now we can leave with honor and dignity in the eyes of the world because our soldiers are needed on the home front. Our original mission has been accomplished. We have spent our national treasury in Iraq. We removed the dictator and gave the Iraqis their freedom, the chance to vote, and a skeleton of a Constitution and helped to rebuild their infrastructure. It is up to the Iraqi people to sort it out if they want freedom.

At first, the perception of the world would be as you say; however, the long-term perception would change when the government of Iraq is brought down by insurgents who do not want to see a democracy working in a middle eastern state.

I would have to say that we MUST complete our mission; or we will be a failure in the operation and the loss of life and wounded would have been for naught. We cannot let down our warfighters or the Iraqi people.

 

[Phillip]

Originally posted by Bluefalcon:
If nuclear bombs are ever detonated on American soil, we will see human depravity at a level New Orleans is only giving us an image of right now. And we'll need more than just the National Guard to restore order.

Amen, to that. Good point, Bluefalcon.

 

[Grimlock Prime]

Originally posted by LadyEagle:
A relative of mine just made that statement last night on the phone. Now we can leave with honor and dignity in the eyes of the world because our soldiers are needed on the home front. Our original mission has been accomplished. It is up to the Iraqi people to sort it out if they want freedom.

I'm certain that the UN & EU would LOOOOOVE to take our place in taking control of Iraq. [NOT sarcasm]

 

[Grimlock Prime]

Originally posted by Bluefalcon:
If nuclear bombs are ever detonated on American soil, we will see human depravity at a level New Orleans is only giving us an image of right now. And we'll need more than just the National Guard to restore order.

Amen. We'll need to rely on the Lord to get thru something like that.