Combat troops pulling out of Iraq? Good or Bad?

[Infoproliferati]

While the fear of the escalation of terrorism in Iraq may be legitimate, I think it is better to get out of there now than later. The Iraqis will have to learn how to run public security and combat operations without a mentor anyway. Pulling combat troops out of Iraq after 7 years is commendable.

[draggar]

Troops are coming home - always good.
Troops are "freed up" for other situations - good.
Money is no longer being spent in Iraq as much - good.

I wouldn't be surprised if a base remained so we could assist Iraq when needed but not in the capacity we are now. Like our bases in Germany, Japan, etc.

[Gerry]

For me, I am happy my brother-in-law (a US Army Colonel - has been to Iraq at least 5 times, I think twice to Afghanistan) and my nephew (US Army Special Ops) are home.

My brother-in-law has announced his retirement. He could have stayed in to get that first star. But, he said, his retirement pay will be equivalent to a Major General's (2 Star) pay.

My nephew will have to wait until spring to get back into college. He is now thinking of taking Arabic and studying Middle East Studies. He said he absolutely loved being able to mingle with the Iraqi people. Their job was to train the new Iraqi Military and police forces and got to spend a great deal of time with the Iraqi people. He became good friends with an Iraqi who attended and graduated Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) as an Engineer.

Both of these guys lost many friends over there. My sister says she has never felt more like a military wife than the past several years. So many of her friends lost their husbands in Iraq or Afghanistan while they were stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas.

So from my perspective, I am happy my family members are home.

As for Iraq - it was an unwarranted, unprovoked, unjustified military action resulting in the deaths of more than 4,400 US soldiers, amputees and injuries by the tens of thousands, and the deaths of over 160,000 documented civilian deaths. Everyone knows the civilian death toll is much higher. And how many British Soldiers, Canadian Soldiers, and other coalition soldiers died? As of this is a far cry from Mission Accomplished.

[Raider]

While the fear of the escalation of terrorism in Iraq may be legitimate, I think it is better to get out of there now than later. The Iraqis will have to learn how to run public security and combat operations without a mentor anyway. Pulling combat troops out of Iraq after 7 years is commendable.

Better to get out now than later huh?

Wouldn't it be a better idea if Iraq had a Government in place before we get out?

And why do you think it's a better idea to get out now than later?

Oh yeah, The Iraqis are going to have to learn anyway from a Government that doesn't exist... Brilliant.

---------- Post added at 11:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:34 PM ----------

For me, I am happy my brother-in-law (a US Army Colonel - has been to Iraq at least 5 times, I think twice to Afghanistan) and my nephew (US Army Special Ops) are home.

My brother-in-law has announced his retirement. He could have stayed in to get that first star. But, he said, his retirement pay will be equivalent to a Major General's (2 Star) pay.

My nephew will have to wait until spring to get back into college. He is now thinking of taking Arabic and studying Middle East Studies. He said he absolutely loved being able to mingle with the Iraqi people. Their job was to train the new Iraqi Military and police forces and got to spend a great deal of time with the Iraqi people. He became good friends with an Iraqi who attended and graduated Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) as an Engineer.

Both of these guys lost many friends over there. My sister says she has never felt more like a military wife than the past several years. So many of her friends lost their husbands in Iraq or Afghanistan while they were stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas.

So from my perspective, I am happy my family members are home.

As for Iraq - it was an unwarranted, unprovoked, unjustified military action resulting in the deaths of more than 4,400 US soldiers, amputees and injuries by the tens of thousands, and the deaths of over 160,000 documented civilian deaths. Everyone knows the civilian death toll is much higher. And how many British Soldiers, Canadian Soldiers, and other coalition soldiers died? As of this is a far cry from Mission Accomplished.

I wonder how your family feels about your "I support the troops but not the mission" bullshit?

"I support you dear brother-in-law and Nephew, but I don't support what your doing."

That must go over real well.

As for Iraq - it was an unwarranted, unprovoked, unjustified military action resulting in the deaths of more than 4,400 US soldiers, amputees and injuries by the tens of thousands, and the deaths of over 160,000 documented civilian deaths. Everyone knows the civilian death toll is much higher. And how many British Soldiers, Canadian Soldiers, and other coalition soldiers died? As of this is a far cry from Mission Accomplished.

And yet Doc post's NO concern for the those who died in the Vietnam War;


South Vietnam South Vietnam
220,357 dead;[7] 1,170,000 wounded

United States United States
58,159 dead; 1,719 missing; 303,635 wounded

South Korea South Korea
5,099 dead; 10,962 wounded; 4 missing

Australia Australia
520 dead; 2,400*wounded

New Zealand New Zealand
37 dead; 187 wounded

Thailand Thailand
1,351 dead

Laos Kingdom of Laos
30,000 killed, wounded unknown

Total dead: 315,384
Total wounded: ~1,490,000+


Oh, but that was provoked.... "Gulf of Tonkin", Remember that Raider? Remember!?

Threats by a dictator who slaughtered over a 100,000 of his own people, A dictator who defied the world and 16 UN resolutions, Fired on aircraft while enforcing the no-fly zone, and made an assassination attempt on a US President, NO, that's NOT a provocation at all.

Not in Doc's world at least.

[tetrapak]

100,000?? Where are you getting these numbers from? Interesting how you would invade a country because of a "ruling dictator who slaughtered over a xxx of his own people", but you wouldn't even blink an eye to Rwandan genocide where a million people were killed just in a few months of time...

[Raider]

100,000?? Where are you getting these numbers from?

From Saddam Hussein's own mouth.

The number is actually 180,000;

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1480609/posts

[tetrapak]

Your source is so reliable that it doesn't even exist on the original site... Even if this was true, that would mean 20 people killed per day during Saddam's reign. In Rwanda it was 10,000 people executed per day, yet you don't give a shit, nor the USA did. Wonder why. The only country that ever tried to intervene was France, but that was little too late.

[katherine]

I wonder how your family feels about your "I support the troops but not the mission" bullshit?

"I support you dear brother-in-law and Nephew, but I don't support what your doing."

That must go over real well.

You believe the troops necessarily are happy to be there and support the mission ?

[tetrapak]

Exactly, Raider should watch Green Zone... http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0947810/

[Raider]

Your source is so reliable that it doesn't even exist on the original site... Even if this was true, that would mean 20 people killed per day during Saddam's reign. In Rwanda it was 10,000 people executed per day, yet you don't give a shit, nor the USA did. Wonder why. The only country that ever tried to intervene was France, but that was little too late.

Get an education TetraTurd, You DO know that Saddam was charged with the deaths of 180,000 people during his trial DON'T YOU?... I guess you DONT

No, instead you choose to look like a ignorant FOOL
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/IRAQ+-...s.-a0153537800

Is your news channel Aljazeera a more reliable source?
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/mi...833777579.html


As for Rwanda, How does Rwanda fit into what I wrote here?;

Threats by a dictator who slaughtered over a 100,000 of his own people, A dictator who defied the world and 16 UN resolutions, Fired on aircraft while enforcing the no-fly zone, and made an assassination attempt on a US President, NO, that's NOT a provocation at all.

Did Rwanda ignore 16 UN Resolutions? Did Rwanda fire on UN Aircraft? Make an assassination attempt on a US President? PROVOKE the US into fighting a war?

Your pathetic attempt to take what I wrote and spin it has failed... Get a life, OK Turd?

Exactly, Raider should watch Green Zone... http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0947810/

Is this where you get your facts? From watching Movies?

LMAO.

[Infoproliferati]

Wouldn't it be a better idea if Iraq had a Government in place before we get out?

Pray tell, how long will it take to set up a government in Iraq? The people of Iraq have the tools to set up their own government.

And do you really think the US can afford to stay in Iraq given the current state of the economy?

[Raider]

Pray tell, how long will it take to set up a government in Iraq? The people of Iraq have the tools to set up their own government.

And do you really think the US can afford to stay in Iraq given the current state of the economy?

I dont like our Troops being there any more longer than they have been... But to pack up and leave would be a disaster at this point, especially when violence has been increasing for the last few months. We still have less than 2 years before were completely out, Hopefully a Government will be installed before then.