Reply #103: My answer to the answer:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. There were no terrorists in Iraq before the U.S. invasion, and while our troops are there, we are providing a target for them. If the people blowing up Iraqi civilians are indeed "terrorists" (strange terrorists, with no consistent target) or whether they're black ops on the part of U.S. and British intelligence services, our leaving will make them lose focus and eventually disperse, as all terrorist movements in history have.

2. Which friends? Bush and his war have turned public opinion throughout the world against the U.S.

3. Who says we have to deal with North Korea and Iran? They wouldn't be half the trouble they are if Bush didn't keep poking at them. North Korea is reconciling with South Korea in a way not seen since the Korean War, and Iran has an active youth movement for liberalization.

4. Impact us economically? Hell, yeah! It would free up some money to do the things that need to be done domestically. (Or is Clark afraid that discharging all the Reserves and National Guard people would show the unemployment rate at its true level?)

5. Strategy makes no difference if your goal is misguided.