Who cares? It's costing way to much to keep it "stable."

Get out before we are completely .....ed

And I believe they said they would meet with the joint chief chair

First order of business on 1/21/09 - replace Mullen

I think we should pull the troops out and move the Obama campaign headquarters there.

Hey can anyone tell me how can MCCain poll so high in the GE if the republicans are voting with us

Couldn't Obama give one of his "change" speeches to the people of Iraq and make them delusional? It worked in the U.S.

lol
Jim' you are funny"
I am employing the gov to listen to my g.o.d.'s plan if they did they could pay for ten"
Of those Iraq war's rebuild them all and still leave us smelling like Saints as a nation under god;'

here yee, here yee, This "front runners" use the Iraq war just to advance themselves to the pulpit.These arm chair generals know that are just bluffing and un informed americans believe their story. I'll bet my house and salary that if they make it to the Presidency their words will be nothing but that words. Bluffers !!!

"Bishop"

It's a Clinton conspiracy. Just ask any Obama supporter. It's all her fault.

Drawing down in Iraq to address the situation in Afghanistan is the only thing that makes sense. Our mission has been accomplished in Iraq. Time for the Iraqi people to take care of themselves. We'll still have a presence there and and will be close by. There will be some chaos whether we redeploy now, a year from now or 50 years from now. You have to take the training wheels off some time

Whatever the generals believe I trust Hillary to do the right thing. Obama has no idea what he is doing in what has to do with Foreign Policy. He thinks the President of the United States, the leader of the Free World is at the same level as Dictators...Pathetic

Are Bush&Cheney Now Politicizing Military? Neither Bush nor McCain know Difference between Defensive War and War of Aggression, of Choice?

When he said the U.S. might stay in Iraq for 100 years, Senator John McCain(R-Ariz.) explained he was referring to the kind of military presence the U.S. has had in Japan, Germany, and South Korea since the mid-20th century.

Does this mean McCain fails to grasp the very different circumstances that caused the U.S. to occupy those countries as opposed to Unprovoked War on Iraq, and present Occupation?

The Axis nations had made aggressive war on America and the U.S. had every right to occupy them after it conquered them. It also had a U.N. mandate to defend South Korea from the aggression of the Communist North. It was America's responsibility to "Maintain the Peace" to be in those countries.

America was defending itself or, as in the case of South Korea, a nation that had been the victim of aggression.

But the U.S. is the aggressor against Iraq. Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan called the war "illegal." The preponderant majority of Iraqis, surveys report, want the U.S. to get out now.

Gains? Please explain. Exactly what have we gained, or hope to gain, in Iraq that would even come close to justifying the one million innocent lives lost (men, women, and children) including our brave warriors? There is no honor to be gained from a dishonorable invasion and all the patriotic smoke grenades in the world will not hide this truth.

who doesnt know that democrats have a vested interest in giving Iraq up day 1 they have to just litsen to harry "the war is lost" reid, they have no guts for the fight and they want america to lose they have been saying that for years. when have you ever heard them or their minions say anything else but our tropps are killing innocent civilians, heck look the code ponk hags sent over 250,000 doallrs to the insurgents to help them fight against america, code pink and other liberal orgs, treat our troops like crap all the time back here at home, not letting then deplane at airports, not letting then do urban training, allwoing them to harass recruiters, and the termination of ALL jrotc programs at ALL california schools. liberals hate america plane and simple.

Well, what is the alternative?? Stay until we go bankrupt?? There has been a virtual news blackout towards any information from Iraq. We don't have a clue to when the Iraqi military can do the job. If we leave right away, yes things might go crazy but how much longer can we keep the military deployed??

I am wondering if this administration has ever taken a look at itself in the foreign policy mirror and the picture is not pretty. What the hell are they doing in someone's else country bulling them and meddling in their affairs. This is complete violation of the sovereignty of another nation under international law. Nothing justifies it. The blood that continues to be shed is being shed for capitalist gains.

I love it. I wonder how the media will 'damage controll' all this in the general election. Not only will the GOP do anything to continue winning in Iraq to help Mc Cain, certainly all the military commanders will as well.

Cmon Obama backed media -SPIN IT. Obama should goto Iraq and tell all the people about 'hope and dreams' ......then pull out all the troops .......LOL

"tomdavie"
That is a good idea but most other countries wouldn't be duped by Super Obama...lol

blank - i think we can quote the great BILLY MADISON in saying "what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought."

You say 9/11 could happen again if Barack was voted in? Well you know what, If Bush actually paid ANY attention to the NUMEROUS reports about Osama and the threat of planes being used to attack our country, it would have NEVER happend in the first place.

Bush has used 9/11 as an EXCUSE to go into war in Iraq, even though NOT ONE of the attackers was from Iraq. Barack will go after the REAL TARGET - OSAMA. Something that should have been priority number 1, seven years ago.

GW Bush used scare tactics and cheating to win a second term. McCain will use the same scare tactics and cheating.

McCain/Rumsfeld in 08

Experience to Die For. Let's keep fighting. Withdrawing from Iraq = surrender. Iraq will be stable and safe in no time. Hang in there another decade folks. 12 billion per month spent in Iraq is not needed in America.The Bush economy is doing fine. We need more tax cuts, but, this time, let's make them for the even-richer.
Iraq = good. Question it and you are a traitor. McCain/Rumsfeld. What me worry?

Chaos if we pull out? There's chaos NOW! The "surge" wasn't exactly working last Sunday when another 56 innocent Iraqi's were killed because Bush and Cheney lied us into a war. THE NEOCONS CREATED THE CHAOS. THEY were warned and warned and warned NOT to attempt to take Baghdad with less than 450,000 troops. The FULL blame for this insiduous war is BUSH AND HIS LYING VP AND RUMSFELD AND RICE. We won't get fooled again!

i'm sure Clinton will get us out of Iraq in a timely fashion and help the Iraqi's return to their country and build a great nation..

So what? Let Iraq deal with its own shiz-it. Let's spend our $265 Million per day in another way, or better yet, stop borrowing the same $265 Million per day from Communist China and Saudi Arabia, home of the murderers of 9-11. If they want U.S. miltary, let them pay for Blackwater directly, instead of the American taxpayers paying for Blackwater.

AJ
...and we thought that was Obama...lol

Obama - Farrakhan 08!

No need to worry - McCain will defeat either one of the Democraps ..

I would think that the Admirals tone will change once a new administration is in place. The current one is very vindictive and has no problems tossing out career officers who's assessment of the situation runs counter to W's view.

If they are truly a good people and are employed to succeed Jesus Christ then god will protect them if not let the cards fall where they may;/
There are issues far greater here than there"

It would be preferable and more appropriate if the current president kept out of the election frivia, and gracefully leave office.

It is time to come home and start taking care of our own, it makes no difference how long we are there or how fast we start pulling back, they will go right back to fighting each other and someone like Sadam will be right back in power.
The military knows the U.S. is not trained nor can we fight Urban warfare. Our Military is designed to Destroy everything in its path and then start over. We are not Policemen.
Politicians need to wake up, War is an extension of what they cannot handle, when our Military is called on, we need to quit sacrificing our troops, and use our High Tech Firepower.

Hillary is the only one who said 60 days. Barack was a lot more realistic and said that with gradualy withdrawal over the course of a few years after careful CONSIDERATION of the stability. Hillary is the I WANT THEM OUT NOW crazy person. Barack is the let's take it ONE STEP AT A TIME, and WE CANNOT JUST START PULLING OUT TROOPS WITHOUT MAKING SURE THAT THE AMERICAN CIVILIANS in Iraq are protected. Barack is careful and thorough. Hillary is crazy lady.

This is only to be expected from an admnistration that lied its way into office and into an Iraq war that is ruining our economy and taking resources away from the real "war on terror."

As others have said, the Joint Chiefs will be singing a different tune come January 2009, as they can't speak freely under Bush! Heckuvajob Admiral Mullen!!!

OF COURSE there will be chaos... but let me remind this silly right wing that THEY should have KNOWN THIS BEFORE they charged in WITHOUT A PLAN! This entire invasion was STUPID and ILL THOUGHT! It should have NEVER been necessary to topple an entire nation! The blood of hundreds of thousands are on the very hands that now scream that chaos will prevail if we pull out! HYPOCRITES!

Admiral Mullen needs to be replaced IMMEDIATELY! He lacks vision and knowledge of history.

SUNNI & SHIA MUSLIMS ARE ALWAYS GOING TO FIGHT EACH OTHER.

Maniac muslims (shia and sunni) have been fighting each other for 1400 years.

So unless American can afford the lives, limbs, mental health and more trillions of dollars to KEEP SUNNI & SHIA APART, we need to GET THE HELL OUT OF IRAQ NOW!

If troops (notice the deceptive 'trainers'?) are needed in Afghanistan to deal with the maniac muslims of 911, THAT IS WHERE AMEIRCAN TROOPS SHOULD BE!

Sunnis will be too busy fighting Shia in Iraq to be concerned with striking other countries out of the area.

The neocons have done their focus groups and have found that, above all else, people TRUST Obama. So, get ready for anything and everything including the kitchen sink to be thrown at his TRUST. "You can't trust him." Oh really? But we CAN trust Bush and McBush? Give me a break! Neocons, you are on your way OUT. Wait and c!

You cannot gain honor from a dishonorable war. NEVER trust a government that doesn't trust you.

So what if Iraq is in Chaos. Neo-cons loved the specious argument that it is better to fight 'them' over there than here. By that logic it would be even better for 'them' to fight each other over there without America spending our children's money and sacrificing American lives and destroying American families doing so.

Okay, let there be chaos. Sixty percent of americans want us out of Irag. Its not our country to worry about anyway. Having spent trillions of dollars already to protect the republicans egos and oil company profits is enough. All the republicans who elected Bush into office should split the bill for bankrupting our country. I would rather be a liberal who gives too much to the poor than a republican who invades soveriegn countrys for profits.

HOW MUCH BENEFIT HAVE AMERICANS REAPED FROM THE IRAQ WAR? LOL

HOW MUCH HAS THE IRAQ WAR COSTS?

McCain does not know economics, does not know COST vs BENEFITS ANALYSIS!
And McCain does not care about cost of war vs benefit of Iraq war because McCain is a warmonger.

Warmongers CAN NEVER envision non-violent solutions to problems; because they are too addicted to violence!

Babylonians have been building societies while Europeans were still cave dwellers.
So the Iraqi people WILL manage!

All the Iraq war is doing for Americans IS TO COST US!

We can stay in Iraq until we are flat broke; or WE CAN CUT OUR LOST NOW!

There will never ever be any benefit for Americans from the Iraq war.
And the 'honor' of American troops is in doing what has been asked of them.

BULL. Get us out of there. They are breaking the Treasury. Stop these insane generals, or better yet, if they want to stay, let them pay for it.

'WIN THE BATTLE BUT LOSE THE WAR.'

WIN THE SURGE BUT LOSE THE IRAQ WAR.

IRAQ UNPROVOKED WAR WAS LOST FROM GET GO; because AMERICANS HAVE NEVER BENEFITED FROM IRAQ WAR!

Bad enough that some Americans allowed the bungling Bush to lead them into a hole. Bad for Americans to remain in the Iraqi hell hole, where BENEFIT IS NON-EXISTENT!

As Johnny would say... " I got news for you Joint Chiefs.. there is a chaotic situation in Iraq right noiw !!!

The Democrats don't care about either Iraq or the USA as long as they can grab power.

They'll sacrifice any number of American soldiers and any number of innocent Iraqis for their hypocritical politics.

OKAY. SEND YOUR KIDS TO FIGHT IT. ROMNEY HAS 5 SONS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE. BUSH HAS TWO DAUGHTERS. PUT YOUR KIDS WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS. WE'LL BE WAITING. McBush - how about sending your kids in there...or your grandkids? Let's see how much you REALLY support this war!!!

Is al-Queda in Iraq?...lol

We should round up every single last neocon and send them to Iraq as security guards.

Good evening,
I'm going to preface this by stating I am an independent. I'm so tired of listening to democrats cry about the war in Iraq. Do me a favor open a history book or peek your head out of the democratic party for a second. Lets see so far I have read that Iraqis want American's out, the war is illegal, and America was the aggressor. First off in every single report or news cast that I have seen I have yet to hear an Iraqi say they want America out. In fact what I do see is many Iraqi's thanking our troops for getting rid of a ruthless dictator. Second, the only thing illegal about Iraq is the former regime's genocide. Thats right Saddam Hussein butchered people, you can probably turn on the history channel to see the two hour documentary they did on that "ruler." Third, if I remember correctly the President offered an alternative to war, and I believe it was something like this, Saddam Hussein to avoid conflict allow the UN inspectors to observe your weapons and come clean about your chemical and biological weapons. But democrats seem to have a short memory of the six months leading up to war. People really have to start generating ideas for themselves based on facts instead of listening to your political party's 30 second soundbyte on the news. I would be willing to bet that if Hilary said the sky was green you would see people checking the sky and more than likely they would argue that you can see green in the sky. Ridiculous.
By the way under the former Clinton the trade centers were bombed, a US warship was bombed, two embassies were bombed- but I guess that is good foreign policy. I love it the stick our heads in the sand and pretend it doesn't exist.

Steppenwolf the 60's rock group band had a song that fits so well with this crappy War, Bush, McCain and all whom support this Repubican Goverment in charge. "The Monster" Song verse, "Ah America where are you Now? We can't fight along against the Monster!"

No wonder the world doesn't trust America. We take a country down and don't give the people time to rebuild it. Cut and run seems to be the mantra. Americans never learn from history. Look what happened when we abandoned Vietnam. The Khmer Rouge set up shop in Cambodia and the people that lived had a horrible experience. We have made a commitment to the people of Iraq and I can't see how walking out will benefit anyone except the liberals that have a vested interest in failure and the bad guys in the middle east.

Ah, JEEZ! Is he "warning" the REST of the Senate??
Looks like the General Election is underway a little early.

I really don't know why the JCC is waring Clinton about Iraq, Obama is the man he is the one that is going toe to toe with McCain.

Obama said he will be meeting with all of the his first day in office and he is going to stop the war, why because AQ is not in Iraq and we are wasting billions being there.

Clinton has been very silent on this issue so they should direct all questions to Obama, he is the big talker so lets see how good he is now, Hillary is doing the right thing stay out of it .

Why have people turned deaf ears to what the democrats are saying, especially to what Obama is saying. At the debate in Ohio, he said he wants us to start pulling out within 16months of his presidency but will meet with the joint chiefs to be sure that it is to the benefit of national security here and abroad. Also, begin to pull out does not mean all combative troops will be completely out by then. Listen people, just listen before you start to leap. Good Lord, that's how we got in this mess to begin with. Golly!!

If we had had any leadership in 2003, we would have withdrawn then. We should have done what we did after the first Gulf War: Beat 'em up; then, get out so they can heal their wounds. All we've been doing since 2003 is training terrorists. We should stop, and let any "chaos" that develops be handled by people with a genuine interest in the outcome. What do the Joint Chiefs know about fighting civilians, anyway?

The headline ("Joint Chiefs Chair Warns Obama & Clinton on Iraq") and even moreso, the headline on this same article on the Time politics blog ("Joint Chiefs Chair Denounces Democrats' Iraq Plans") are not remotely justified by the content of the article. Mullen simply said we should be careful about withdrawing too quickly -- and both Obama and Clinton have said the same thing. From the headline, this looks like an alarming case of uniformed military interference with civilian electoral processes. But from the article text, there's nothing there. What's the deal with your headline writers?

Isn't this jumping the gun a bit? Don't briefings come AFTER we elect someone to the Oval Office? Has the good admiral (and others) forgotten that specifics in any campaign are more an indication of intention that should be expected to be subject to alteration once actual governing begins? Didn't Obama's campaign remind us of this too?

I remember plans offered with a caution about being realistic, about not making promises that can't be kept and not making rash decision. He plans for a careful withdrawl that involves not just the Iraq government but others in the region who have a stake in the stability of Iraq too.

Very good point, TKD. Very good point.

Well said SE croft. Thanks!

America can´t beat Obama- He plays by different rules. American´s heart is too nice and naive. Obama not naive...trained.

It's sad how not even a general has answers for the public.

The truth is, unless a powerful ruthless dictator is in power, the sunni & shia will fight, unless there's a US presence. And if we put a base there, our people will be attacked on a regular basis.

If we don't cut & run, we will never get out of there.

If we set up a base, it will act as fuel to the terrorists. They don't want us there.

Osama bin Laden has successfully cost America 4 trillion dollars in added debt, and made America hated around the world. Bush played right into his hands. Way to go George. There's your legacy.

And of course Iraq fiasco is just the icing on the cake.

I like that... Obama... A Christian with a Muslim name. Well, I'm a Christian with a Christian name (sorta), and I'm living in Texas, so I'll take pride in for him. I'm sure he'll do the right thing in Iraq--Obama isn't all for ending the war on terror, he just wants to move troops out of Iraq and reassign some of them to Afghanistan. I think it's a good plan. If we leave Iraq, we won't be making the Iraqis kill each other. Besides, who's to say how he'll act once he's privy to all of the information that a president gets.

I'm voting for Obama because of his stance against lobbyism and because he's black (I'm white, and I think it's time). McCain is too old and will likely represent the corporations over the people, and I can't vote for Hillary, because I think she's actually serious about trying this universal health care thing. Why do we never learn from Europe's mistakes?! (Plus, I'm an insurer and I know damn well the government won't do my job better than I do)

Did you know the word "hysteria" is derrived from the Latin word for "uterus?"

1. The Iraqis do want us out.
2. More Iraqis have died because of war than would have died under Hussein.
3. If our goal was to rid Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, we already had won the day before we invaded. If our goal is to referee a civil war, we'll never be done.

A new WPO poll of the Iraqi public finds that seven in ten Iraqis want U.S.-led forces to commit to withdraw within a year. An overwhelming majority believes that the U.S. military presence in Iraq is provoking more conflict than it is preventing and there is growing confidence in the Iraqi army. If the United States made a commitment to withdraw, a majority believes that this would strengthen the Iraqi government. Support for attacks on U.S.-led forces has grown to a majority position—now six in ten. Support appears to be related to a widespread perception, held by all ethnic groups, that the U.S. government plans to have permanent military bases in Iraq.

The poll was conducted for WorldPublicOpinion by the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) at the University of Maryland and was fielded by KA Research Ltd. / D3 Systems, Inc. Polling was carried out September 1-4 with a nationwide representative sample of 1,150 Iraqi adults, which included an oversample of 150 Arab Sunnis (hereafter simply called Sunnis).

whatever who is gonna be the new president, but in this case between Obama and Hilary, both have good campains. just the illogical war in Irak that have claimed hundreds and hundreds of our american soldiers and this must stop. so these candidates have to realize about to take out all these people and if they don't do it, the economy of this country would go down! nobody wants that.

Obama has as much SUBSTANCE as a Banana Split.

Two across the Isles of political banana joined by three scoops of Ben and Jerry's ice cream.

A scoop of Hope, a scoop of Change, and a scoop of Unity.

Then it is topped with his cultural knowledge from living in three different cultures. Hawaiian Pineapple, Indonesian Chocolate, and American Strawberry.

On top of that is a marinade of whip Dream Cream.
Some sprinkles of Peace
Bringing it all together it is topped with One Washington Cherry of Truth.

America has only one friend over there in the Middle East, and it is Israel. You stay they hate you, you go they still hate you, so what's new here? There's no America in Lebanon and the blood letting is merely a blood sport over there. In Iraq it is Iraq killing fellow Iraq citizens. Saddam did his thing and now little Saddams are at it again. You will find peace over there when families love their children more than they want to blow them up. Case closed.

Obama as the incarnation of Kennedy? As Obama supporters like to point out, the untested Senator of the 60's did OK with the Cuban Missile crisis. HOWEVER, would Kruzchev have pulled of a stunt like that if the, then, president had such little international experience? Those nations who fear US reprisals will test the limits of an Obama presidency. Additionally, Kennedy faced just one power that could do serious harm to us. We are faced with many more today. Shall we all hold hands and sing kumbaya with Kim Jong Ill, Putin, Medvediv, Chavez, Than Shwe, Castro(Jr.), Kabiki, Ahmandinejad... and on and on and on...

Let's get real and face the fact that his inexperiance in foreign policy is a REAL PROBLEM. By the way, his international policy advisor is Brezinski... Carter's NSA advisor... Nice man but Carter's advisor???

Right, we can't have Iraq desend into chaos.. That would be terrible if that happend.. uggghhh.

England tried peace and love with Hitler and his nut cases and look how that turned out, tracksta. I hope (no pun) Obama has more in his quiver than that gem you just related. Please check for yourself. Europe has being trying this approach for four years now and you can see where things are for yourself. Remember: Speak softly and carry a big stick seems much more appropriate.

OBAMA GOING AFTER OSAMA! I love it! We bloggers have all become armchair generals. Wow! Seriously, I do believe that I know as much about the situation as Obama. Ha! You won't catch me missing any Europe/Nato meetings. In fact, I will go over to Pakistan tomorrow and tell their leader that we are coming tomorrow to get Bin Laden, whether he likes it or not! What is their leader's name now? Is it still Musharof, or Mooshawruf? Anyway, I will have the strateegery all figured out and the noocalar weapons loaded, and we will get the job done! I will appoint thepian oman as the head investigator of the attack team, because his name will fit in well with the region. I must leave for awhile now, but I'll be back for some more armchair genralities. I need to find out when John Stewart comes on tonight, because I am in deep need of comic relief. I think I still have a uterus, so that must be the problem!

The war is one of the major causes of the current economic crisis. Bush says its a slowdown while 2/3 of the country say they are experiencing a recession. Bush and McCain just want some more time to make the war work. In fact McCain wants as much as 100 years. By that time the US will be a second rate country. It is time to start withdrawing the troops. Clearly, we do not want chaos, but that doesn't mean we have to stay there forever. Besides, if the economy keeps getting worse we will have chaos at home.

War cost money, lives and great sacrifice from our troops and there families. You people do not care about our troops or the safety of our country. Our troops did not die in vain. Our troops are winning and you would have them cut n run. Shame on you all. Shame on dems and libs with the coward mentality. We have been safe every since our troops got involved. Show some appreciation for the greatest military in the world. Allow them the victory that you stopped in Vietnam. While we were planning on moving a half million troops to desemate the enemy, you instead cut the troops and then made them leave too soon. Victory was at hand. This war, right or wrong is a work in progress. We made a few mistakes. Overall, we lost far fewer lives and killed the enemy over 10 to 1. The enemy still wants to attack the US on our soil. Our great military has them running scared and hiding like mice. Lets finish the job at hand. Support your troops though I know that you wont. Pulling out is NOT supporting our troops. Ask them! God bless our troops in harms way and across the globe.

So..... to a lot of you, it's just a question of MONEY! Oh, it's too expensive! Very sad!

Have you noticed any planes flying into US skyscrapers lately? Thank you, Mr. Pres, for keeping the chaotic mess "over there" and not in the US. I sleep well at night thanks to our Troops.

We've got to decide if we're going to prioritize their concerns or ours. We've given Iraq precious years of military and monetary support. Why don't Republicans mind spending government money on other people's countries but scoff at supporting their own citizens who are poorer than ever in memorable history? Stability for Americans right here in the US has to be our top concern.

It is not just money. It is costing lives. I say bring the troops home and save both money and lives. And the idea that the invasion of Iraq has anything to do with 911 is just wrong. The fact is that the invasion of Iraq led to Al Q. coming into Iraq.
I don't know why people think that wanting an end to the war is somehow anti-military. This war was ill-conceived and has shown no benefit for the US. It has cost us lives and money and made us less safe.
But the choice is simple. If you like the Bush plan vote for McCain. If you don't vote for someone else. This is clear. Bush has been such a success that we really could use 4 more years of the same ideas.

a great man once said," Getirdone". I could not agree more.

We should leave Iraq but only when our Generals say it is necessary to do so- regardless of who is President. It would be great if we are able to leave a stable situation there but this is ultimately up to the Iraqi people to determine. I am also saddened by the divisiveness of recent Presidential campaigns and hope that the American people and their Candidates will set a positive example for how an efficient Democracy should operate. The Iraqi government as well as our own should stop taking so many vacations and get to work on meaningful solutions (A.K.A. legislation) to fix these problems!

Tor- do you choose to ignore facts that you don't like? It said that Mullen's term is not over until Sept. 09. He will be serving under the next president for at least 8 months. At least give him credit for speaking his mind, yet willing to follow any orders that are given to him. I trust his opinions and suggestions more than someone who hates Bush and thinks they know exactly what's going on because they watch the news. You may not like how or why the war started, but pulling the troops out too soon doesn't change history. The fact is we're there now and need to finish the job and leave it in a stable condition. The Dems want to pull the troops as soon as possible as if that would change the fact that we went in there in the first place. That is not only moronic, but also dangerous. Stop living in the past and start fixing the problem today. History is what it is.

If there was no oil in Iraq, Bush would not have invaded them. Bush and Congress spend $12 billion a month on this folly. This money could have been invested in making us free of oil dependency. It was not and now we are in debt and broke. Why should the next administration validate the mistakes made by Bush and Congress? Wasting more borrowed money and America blood in the Middle East is stupid to the power of ten.

No , when we pull out everything will be as it should. Invaders are out of other peoples country. They will adjust as did Vietnam and anywhere else. Disrespect a mans house and he will resist, leave and there is nothing left to resist The only thing that will stop is the kickbacks on all those oil profits. They dont care about those people, they dont even care about the PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY . they dont even care about oil, they care about the DISCOUNTED(DAMN NEAR FREE) OIL. Leave iraq and watch the money begin to dry up and then see who is effected. A rapid withdrawel , return as much as their resources and property as possible and a dam* apology is in order.

New Yorker: Finally, I have some company as regards Shia and Sunni! I was one of the UnAmerican and UnPatriotic 20% who protested the war in Iraq. I am not a military expert but we already had one front in fighting an enemy that does not believe in the Geneva Conventions! I remember a Wanted, Dead or Alive poster for Osama bin Laden. He may be dead in some cave or still happily camping out in Afghanistan. Did Bush once say that bin Laden is now irrelevant? His ideology and numerous hydra-headed offshoot monstrous terrorist groups certainly are not. For me, it is Mission UnAccomplished. I once said I have a teeny bit of experience in that part of the world many years ago when my Dad was sent there for four years and spent our time primarily in Pakistan. I got blasted because things have changed since then. Yes, they have and not for the better! The King of Iraq was assassinated and his body drug through the streets while we there. The Shah was still around but inconveniently got himself deposed. Pakistan was starting its string of coups-then got into its war and splintered into Bangladesh. Shias and Sunnis hated each other then and still. Downright inconvenient of their prophet not have named a successor! Changed? Yes. Some of them now have nuclear capabilities and have learned some dirty tricks. Basically, the mid-east does not want westerners in their counries after coloniasm/ imperialism. The Iraqis did not fall into our arms. We had no business going in there until Afghanistan was secured. al Quaeda was not in Iraq - common sense dictates that reasoning since Saddam shared power with nobody. Now, the Taliban have taken back 10% of Afghanistan, only 30% is controlled by Karzai and the rest in the hands of the war loa