“you better be wearing an asbestos suit”.

[sabra]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7374-1841254,00.html

US officials say that if you even mention pulling out from Iraq in the Oval Office “you better be wearing an asbestos suit”. The roots of the commitment go deeper than the President’s personal indignation at the thought that he might quit. The effect on the US’s reputation abroad would be devastating.

[malaise]

1. Can the reputation be any worse?

Indeed removing them can only improve the US' reputation.

[mtnester]

3. Yes, it can be worse...

when we invade Syria/Iran

[YDogg]

I concur. Things can always get much worse with this slap-happy bunch.

:evilfrown:

[oregonindy]

5. yes it could...we could torture people...um wait...we could have

government officials out secret agents...no no that ones done too. we could alienate everyone on the planet ...well that ones almost done..

[JAbuchan08]

2. God forbid that pulling out from Iraq might effect our reputation

that's kind of what I'm hoping for :eyes:

[napi21]

4. Right now, you probably have to wear an asbestos suit if you say

Barney needs a haircut!

You know how much Shrub hates controversy and people who disagree with him.

Can you even imagine how pissed he is, 24/7, at everything and everybody? I don't like her much, but I feel sorry for Laura. The staff can quit, she can't (or probably won't.)

My biggest concern is for Barney. Some people are very nasty to their pets when they're pissed at the world!

[tahoedenver]

6. re:

Bush is going in all the way. He's in way too deep now to pull out. That point passed way back in the summer of 2004. We can't pull out anymore, it would destablize the whole region. We're in this shithole until we're out - which could be until he's out of office and whoever succeeds him finally pulls our men and women out for good.

He's taking the ship down with him. He's riding this all the way into the ground and he won't stop until his power has been stripped.

[in_cog_ni_to]

7. Oh please. We couldn't be more hated. n/t

[JAbuchan08]

8. and then there is this re: protestors

"But they can stop him doing much that is worthwhile at home."

like what exactly? What worthwhile proposal has Bush ever come up with at home or Abroad?
Arab terrorists are already willing to do *anything,* so what will pulling out do? Will their tactics become any more harsh, or deadly? No. They might feel some satisfaction at having embarassed the US, but as far as I'm concerned America shouldn't feel embarassed about doing what's right for America just because some terrorist somewhere might get some satisfaction from that. Anyways, its not really the US that they're embarassing its the neo-con cabal.

[IndyOp]

9. They will have to leave behind their 14 permanent military bases -

and plans to invade Syria, Iran, and Egypt (the Prize) from the comfort of those bases.

They will have to leave behind their unmetered oil pipelines.

Leaving Iraq will destroy the GOP for a long time to come - and it must be done.