Why do so few dare say "We should just leave Iraq"?

[norml]

Dubya's speech was dishonest, in that there's no intention of ever leaving Iraq. Their intention is to use it as a base for operations in the region.

I'd make the case that we should just leave Iraq. Turn it over to the UN, under whatever terms they'll take it. Let them show us how it's done.

Turn it over to the local Iraqi groups. Let them rebuild and keep order in their own neighborhoods.

Most of those we're fighting in Iraq fight each other, as well as fighting any outsiders who've come into their country.

Most of those we're fighting were not just about to get on a plane to come here to kill people.

There have been places we've left where leaving turned out to be the best thing to do to restore order, and to remove the threat.

Vietnam, Lebanon, Somalia, these were places where there was no good reason to stay. We left these places and things worked out for the best. Would you want to reinvade any of them?

Playing America World Police comes with a cost that warrants a cost benefit analysis. There comes a time to stop throwing good money after bad, and to get out of Dodge.

[Bouncy Ball]

1. A lot of us here make that case.

I think most DUers feel we should leave. Put a multi-national peacekeeping force in that is NOT the US military.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

5. Cannot do that and ensure that the oil contracts will remain in the

hands of those who promote greedom indefinitely.

[norml]

12. Now if only more pundits and politicians were willing to do so.

I don't know if it's politically correct for a politician to be caught saying so at this point, but it's something I think will be said more often and openly as time goes by.

[KlatooBNikto]

2. That is because we will be accused of being soft on terror, a relic

of a bygone era.

[wtmusic]

3. Because it will be admitting defeat

continuing on with needless death must continue until everyone's had enough

[knowbody0]

4. i say we offer a profound apology to the Iraqi people

they have divided the country into 28 precints. offer each of these monatory retribution and wish them luck.
US forces and Halliburton the fuck out of Dodge

[whistle]

6. I've been saying it for months...even wrote John Kerry about it

...when he was campaigning

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

7. Mainly because it would be a complete admission that the Iraq War is

a total failure, and that it is possibly the worst mistake both strategically and morally every committed by this country, certainly in the last 100 years anyway.

It would require roughly half the country to acknowledge that they voted for the worst possible leader, who did this, and that they are complicit in this horrible mistake.

It's "hard work" for people to do that.


If we keep plugging along as though it WEREN'T some kind of horrible mistake, we put off that day of reckoning.

[norml]

17. Results 1 - 10 of about 1,930 for leave-iraq. (0.13 seconds)

Results 1 - 10 of about 1,930 for leave-iraq. (0.13 seconds)



News Alerts
About
Google News



Sorted by relevance Sort by date


Bush speech said nothing; we need to leave Iraq
Port Huron Times Herald, MI - 4 hours ago
Iraq is no closer to stability than it was a year ago. Things keep getting worse every week. More than 1,700 Americans have been ...

Time for US to Leave Iraq?
Arab News, Saudi Arabia - Jun 28, 2005
Patrick O’Donnel, a well-known photojournalist whose work has appeared in Time, Newsweek, Reuters, Associated Press and a host of other outlets, is a friend ...

The US Has No Choice But To Leave Iraq
Al-Jazeerah.info, GA - Jun 28, 2005
... repeatedly, claim. The Bush\Blair’s administrations have no choice but to leave Iraq. Especially, after the latest high fatalities. And ...


USA Today Access Amazon From OpEdNews and support Us at no cost to you
OpEdNews - 22 hours ago
... Clever strategy starts to be revealed. Bush is pretending that the people, who want the kids home, want to leave Iraq to its own devices. ...
Can Bush rally US support for Iraq? BBC News
Bush fails to show how to achieve goals in Iraq Rockford Register Star
Bush: America will not leave Iraq before job is done KVOA.com
Tucson Citizen - OregonLive.com - all 1,860 related »
Diggers to leave Iraq on schedule
Advertiser Adelaide, Australia - Jun 27, 2005
By IAN McPHEDRAN. AUSTRALIAN troops will be out of southern Iraq within a year regardless of how long the insurgency lasts. Defence ...

Administration must set timeline for US to leave Iraq
Tower Timberjay News, MN - Jun 23, 2005
By Marshall Helmberger. That’s not a statement I make lightly. While I strongly opposed President Bush’s decision to invade Iraq ...

Rumsfeld rejects setting timeline to leave Iraq
CNN - Jun 23, 2005
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says setting a deadline to withdraw US troops from Iraq would throw "a lifeline to terrorists.". ...


TheDay (subscription) Bush Won't Set Timetable To Leave Iraq
TheDay (subscription), CT - Jun 25, 2005
By JIM VANDEHEL. Washington — President Bush said Friday the United States will never set a timetable for pulling US troops out ...

No Timeline in Sight or US Troops to Leave Iraq
All Headline News - Jun 24, 2005
WASHINGTON (AHN) - Defense Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, warned that it would be a mistake to set deadlines for pulling US-led coalition forces out of Iraq. ...

Bush Remains Adamant: No Timetable to Leave Iraq
Wired Report, FL - Jun 24, 2005
... and an ever increasing number of American fatalities, President George W. Bush remains committed to not giving a timetable for American troops to leave Iraq. ...


New! Get the latest news on leave-iraq with Google Alerts.


http://news.google.com/news?q=%22leave%20iraq%22&hl=en&lr=&sa=N&biw=780&tab=wn

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. Just think of the expense of the PR to cover for the defeat.

Not to mention all the the committees investigations to find out who to blame. And, the monuments to be built to the dead so we can feel good about the waste of lives.

[KharmaTrain]

9. They've Got To Dig Us In Deeper Before Sheeple Awake

Pushing to cut and run will backfire badly on Democrats no matter is we really have no say in this whole fiasco. While I'm firmly against this invasion, regime and the overall clusterfuck that is called a foreign policy, we're in too deep and too far now.

Without Democrats in control of the House or Senate, we should just let these bastards dig themselves in deeper and wait until they try to find their way out. It will happen and, if we play it smart, not only will it open up a bunch of seats next year for us to pick up, but also could rip that corrupt party apart.

The smartest things a Democrat can say when some wingnut attempt to say "OK, what would you do?" is to just smile...not say a word. Remember, "mandate, baby" (boy do I love using that one at these goons now)...this is your show now...you've got the money, the power and the free slate...take your best shot not, cause if you don't succeede, the hell you're gonna pay will last you the rest of your decrepid lives.

My ultimate answer would be to involve the Arab League...the only organization in that region that has some semblence of credibility...who could come in and give us the right cover to get our troops out safely. But we're miles from even getting to that concept. Meanwhile the carnage goes on and will get worse. Welcome to 1967.

[aquart]

10. Because it's so wimpy.

Also, we broke it in the first place. We have major responsibilities to fix it. Unfortunately, where Georgie shits, ain't nothin' gonna grow for a hundred years.

[Disturbed]

11. Why are the majority of Dems complicit with this scam?

We now know for sure that the Bush Regime planned the overthrow of Saddam before 911 Attack and lied about the WMDs. Most Iraqis want the U.S. and it's partners in crime out of Iraq. The Dems keep funding the fiasco. Why is are most people so damn sure things would be worse there if Amerika left? Let the Iraqis rebuild with U.S. reparation funds and figure out their own destiny.

Amerika needs to rebuild and doesn't need a few thousand more dead &/or maimed troops. Iraqis will sell their oil to whomever offers them the best deal. Oh but wait..maybe China will offer them more that Amerika will. Nevermind. Amerika should stay forever or until the wells run dry.

[Bluerthanblue]

13. For the same reason kids

hide the abuse that goes on inside thier homes- Partly because they are 'afraid' of the 'unknown', partly because in a twisted sort of way, they feel a 'loyalty' in the 'familiar' even if that familiar is BAD,- and partly because to admit it- to face the truth, as ugly and awful as it may be to deny- somehow makes it REAL- and undeniable.

i keep feeling like we are stuck in an abusive marriage/family, where EVERYONE (the whole world) can see that reality- but no one wants to face the truth- and those of us who do, are being silenced, and threatened, and called 'liars' by those who are supposed to be 'above reproach'- but are proving to be 'beneath contempt'-

How many more 'kids' will 'we' have to pretend 'don't' matter- ??? while dad keeps bringing home flowers, and saying he's not going to let anything happen to any of us- ever, and mom (the dems) can't bring herself to admit, or stand firm- (to do this they have to stand together strong, and without 'pussyfooting' around the truth) and MOVE the HELL out!-


bad metaphor/similie? maybe- but life like this, keeps bringing up past history- and picking old scabs.... and i want it to END.

[Massacure]

14. Iraq would split into a civil war the way it is now.

The Kurds would try and join Turkey. That leaves the Sunnis and Shiites. I always get these two mixed up, but one of them is sympathetic to Iran and would probably want to join them, while the other tries to hold Iraq together.

I wouldn't have any objections to an international peace keeping force though.

Unfortunately Bush lit this powder keg and there is no good way to put the damn thing out.

[Bluerthanblue]

15. see,

even though you know there IS no 'way out'- you still can't
'give up' the 'hope' that 'maybe, somehow, something, someone, someway'
will make it worth staying around and 'trying' to end this awful mess, in anything other than the awful mess that will eventually happen-

even with 'peace keeping forces' they'd be dying, daily- and in place for life- just as our troops are still in So. Korea,...

there is no 'good' out- on this- people are going to die, in big numbers- there IS no 'winning'-

and you are right- there isn't a way to stop what will come, which may make everything we've experienced so far seem 'tame' in comparison.
Pretty depressing, but somehow, the truth often is.

[norml]

16. Iraq like Yugoslavia was put together after WWI.

We didn't try to put Yugoslavia back together under a single security force. In case anyone forgets we had regime change in Yugoslavia with zero US combat fatalities.

In the Presidential Debates of 2004 Kerry called for more "Autonomy" of the regions and groups in Iraq. Bush responded by calling for a system in Iraq that would be more "Federal".

Sometimes breaking up is the easiest thing to do. That's what I meant by saying the different groups in Iraq could secure and rebuild their own neighborhoods.

[Dr Fate]

18. Because they dont plan on going or sending their kids.

Pretty simple to support a war so long as "those other people" are fighting it.

I cant support the war, because I'm not physically willing to go fight it- so it's easy for me.

[norml]

25. The US Has No Choice But To Leave Iraq

The US Has No Choice But To Leave Iraq

By Ali Al-Hail

Al-Jazeerah, June 28, 2005



The Iraqi resistance has the upper hand in Iraq. As a matter of fact, it has had the upper hand, since the occupation, was declared. The resistance has an obvious impact, specifically on the occupation.

Rumsfeld, the Defence Secretary talked on Sunday, about a sustainable, well-established resistance, that could last up to 12 years. Before him, Abu Zaid acknowledged the resistance has got stronger, over the past 6 months. Cheney, the vice President, oddly enough, spoke about a weakening resistance.

Linking all these statements, to reality on the ground, gives only, this observation: The Bush administration is deeply, stuck in Iraq.

On Friday, 6 marines were killed, and, 13 were critically, injured. On Saturday, 2 soldiers were shot dead, and, on Sunday another two were killed. On Monday, two pilots were killed after their Apache helicopter, was, directly, hit by a missile (BBC, June 27th). Another soldier, was, also, killed on the ground.



snip



http://www.aljazeerah.info/Opinion%20editorials/2005%20Opinion%20Editorials/June/28%20o/The%20US%20Has%20No%20Choice%20But%20To%20Leave%20Iraq%20By%20Ali%20Al-Hail.htm

[MsTryska]

19. because many don't feel that way.

it's immoral to leave a country in ruins.


it's immoral and it's dangerous.

[IChing]

20. The act of the war was immoral, you don't leave the criminal

in the store after the crime was committed at the "pottery barn"
Unless he is supervised by the courts

Remember what LBJ said in 65, "to abandon VietNam would be wrong"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1897416

edited for link

[norml]

21. It's immoral to keep it in ruins. Staying keeps it in ruins.

Leaving allows order to be restored and rebuilding to begin, just like in Vietnam and in Lebanon. Staying wouldn't have made those places any better either.

[fla nocount]

22. Because they have neither the vocabulary nor cognitive wit to say or

understand Colonialism. Saddam aka the butcher of Bagdad was simply the easiest mark, a bumpkin, a rube. That's why Iraq was first. The rest will take deliberation. Meanwhile "they" are in the region with their foot in the door.

We as a nation will stand in the streets before "they" pull out of Iraq.
That is what happened in Vietnam. We as a nation stood in the streets.

[norml]

23. Here's a response I got on a Yahoo Message Board.

Let them show us how it's done? You have got to be kidding me. And which
wonderful example of the UN do you use to draw this conclusion? Perhaps its the
UN peacekeepers impregnating over 82 women and girls in the Congo? Or the 150
allegations of sex crimes committed by UN staffers? Or perhaps yet another
stellar example the Oil for Food program? Or maybe it was the well trained UN
logistics expert who videotaped his sexual abuses of young girls? Yes this is
against UN policy and is even posted on facilities even in the congo stating
that sex with prostitutes and anyone under 18 is prohibited but the UN hands out
condoms to its workers to help prevent them from contracting AIDS/HIV.
Unfortunately this is nothing new.. such things happened as far back as early
1990's in Cambodia and later in Somalia, Ethiopia and Bosnia. Even Kofi Anan
admits there is clear evidence of gross misconduct and is appropriately
outraged. And of course we can always turn to the wonderful example set by
Boutros-Ghali who facilitated various arms deals with the Hutus which led to a
million dead. And there are more examples where they could "show us how its
done".
Now I'm not claiming the US army is stellar in its example either. But atleast
we should recognize that they can't be any worse off with the US than with the
UN. The Iraqi people are going to have to unite themselves obviously but that
would be extremely difficult under current conditions even if the US were not
part of the makeup.

wrote:
Dubya's speech was dishonest, in that there's no intention of ever
leaving Iraq. Their intention is to use it as a base for operations
in the region.

I'd make the case that we should just leave Iraq. Turn it over to the
UN, under whatever terms they'll take it. Let them show us how it's
done.

Turn it over to the local Iraqi groups. Let them rebuild and keep
order in their own neighborhoods.

Most of those we're fighting in Iraq fight each other, as well as
fighting any outsiders who've come into their country.

Most of those we're fighting were not just about to get on a plane to
come here to kill people.

There have been places we've left where leaving turned out to be the
best thing to do to restore order, and to remove the threat.

Vietnam, Lebanon, Somalia, these were places where there was no good
reason to stay. We left these places and things worked out for the
best. Would you want to reinvade any of them?

Playing America World Police comes with a cost that warrants a cost
benefit analysis. There comes a time to stop throwing good money
after bad, and to get out of Dodge.

[norml]

24. Here's what I said in reply.

Young girls coming to a military camp to trade sex for food is an old
story. Though it's something to be discouraged, it's no surprise. Got
chocolate bar GI?

If you're going to hold an entire organization responsible the crimes
of individuals, then you should have some evidence that higher ups
either authorized it, or looked the other way. It sounds like the
examples you gave are being investigated and prosecuted, as they
should be.

And what about Oil for Food? That was all they could come up with to
criticize, that maybe Saddam could've used some of the oil money to
buy some WMDs sometime, otherwise there was nothing in the way of any
WMD program found.

In the Oil for Food program those involved got no more than the
commission on the contracts that had been agreed upon. If contracts
or jobs got handed out to friends and relatives, and if the Dictator
skimmed off some of the money for his own palace fund, that also is
pretty standard in the third world wholesale oil business.

By the way, the number one company making money in Iraq under the Oil
for Food program was Halliburton. But hey, why settle for half a
loaf, when you can have the whole?

Yes the UN did a fantastic job in Iraq in the 90s. The UN managed to
keep the Iraqi oil flowing, aiding the world economy by keeping oil
prices low. Iraq was not able to develop or keep any prohibited
weapons while the UN was there. Iraq did not attack any other country
while the UN was there.

All this noise about there being some kind of Big Oil for Food
Scandal is just to keep Sheeple like you from even considering that
maybe we should just turn Iraq over to the UN, whom we should be
working to strengthen, rather than working to subjugate the UN or to
destroy it.