Why would George Bush ever give up the spoils of war...

[whistle]

...with Iraq? Plus, there are other territories to conquer in the Middle East and around the world. This administration, its corporate allies and its army of Christian fundementalist zeolots have visions empire in their minds. The voices of Iraqi people never were and are not now being listened to by the Bush administration. America is in that region of the world to stay, count on it!

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January 19, 2005
OP-ED CONTRIBUTORS
Should We Stay or Should We Go?
By FREDRICK BARTON, BATHSHEBA CROCKER and CRAIG COHEN

Washington — WITH Iraqi elections scheduled to take place in two weeks, many Americans already have one eye on the exit. The Bush administration insists that American troops will stay until a free, stable and peaceful Iraq is established, as Condoleezza Rice did yesterday at her Senate confirmation hearings. But it seems likely that momentum for a speedy withdrawal will increase after the January elections no matter the degree of stability in Iraq.

When is the proper time, then, to withdraw the bulk of our 150,000 troops from Iraq? The answer does not lie in the corridors of Washington, but on the streets of Baghdad, Tikrit, Mosul and Falluja. The answer lies with the people of Iraq.

As it now stands, there are three situations under which American forces could withdraw: we achieve our goals and depart in triumph; we are asked to leave by the Iraqi government; or we leave Iraq in chaos but spin it as a win. There are obstacles or drawbacks to all three. Achieving our goals may be impossible now with the current levels of insurgency and distrust. Iraqi leaders may be slow to show us the door if we are guaranteeing their security. Lowering our standard of success is unlikely to increase American credibility either at home or abroad.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/19/opinion/19barton.html?oref=login&th