Power Shortage

Quit wasting tax payers money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Iraq war is over by no means. The combination of U.S. military and Iraqi traitors has prevailed so far, partly due to the excesses of Al Qaeda and other religious extremists. Many wars have had breaks in the action, while regrouping goes on. It does no service to peace in the Mideast nor the U.S. role in the world for the media to buy into the neocons declaration of victory. There was no justice after the debacle after Vietnam and you see what crimes that led the Leviathan to commit, in the name of peace, democracy, or whatever...When will the world ever learn!

This is a silly propaganda trying to portray that the US is powerless in Iraq. How can the US be powerless when it is the US who invaded Iraq in the first place! The US managed to destroy the entire Saddam's army! The al-Qaeda and Sadr Army are just rag-tag gun swinging ordinary ill-trained and ill-equiped militia. How can the most advanced military in the world be powerless? You must be joking! Moreover those people who are in power in Iraq now are all appointed by the US, infact the current Iraq government is just and extension of the US government which the US can manipulate anytime. Come on be realistic! Silly article.

I agree Iraq is not Viet Nam the US military will not be siting targets. this is from the top of leadeship to the lowest private. I know this because I have served 3 tours in Iraq. I am currently over in N. Iraq.
US Marine

Iraq is NOT the new Vietnam, that position lies in Afghanistan. Iraq has had a history of centralised and stable government albeit corrupt and totalitarian. Once the mandate expires Iraq will find it's own equilibrium. Afghanistan is the new Vietnam. It has never had a proper centralised control and it's only uniting factor has been to fight outside invaders, liberators or colonialists. This lesson has been the painful lesson of the British (Twice) and the Russians. The Russians had the greatest funding of any under a communist regime and the use of a puppet government. They retired with fingers well and truely burnt. The British retired and concluded that isolation was the answer. This may be the modern remedy with support of Pakistan and perhaps Western help with control of their borders to stem infultration across the border.

Viet Nam all over again, once again our troops will have their hands tied when it comes to defending themselves and our tax dollars will continue to be wasted in a place we have no business being. I think those billions could be put to better use here at home OR helping military families and veterans.

Power without responsibility and responsibility without power never ever produces the desired effects but Bush administration has been involved in this practice to minimize the increasing conflicts in Iraq. Anticipation to the growing interest of Bush administration to keep American troops in Iraq is quite tough. It seems to every one that the consent of Iraqi status apparatus to keep American troops in Iraq is more suspicious too. In the course of re-structuring the Iraq, America and its alliances nations have spent a large amount of money, which eventually gave rise to the economic recession of the world, and particularly scores American people suffered and lost their jobs. Road ahead is a thorny, thing have been fall apart and it is yet to be seen that how newly elected Barrak Obama gets things in place. Therefore, it is Americans duty to create the encouraging atmosphere to bring everyone into mainstream politics. Perhaps, no Iraqi wants to live in the state of fear and frustration so the Americans and the people of the rest of the world. However, fostering the favorable environment will not be easy enough. USA must have a enduring vision to achieve its goals. Being mere referee in the pitch all the time will place America nowhere. American troops must have both responsibility and power to combat against Iraqi terrorists. American troops should not always be ready to act as a safeguard of Iraq, if this tendency is being continued, it will be too expensive to Americans and rest of the world.

My, how convenient. Any argument that ends up with the Obama timetable is worth a shot. While we're at it, let's choose the course of action that gives the best chance of Iraqi failure. Cute.

It's like any other withdrawl from any other conflict. We're still in Germany, Japan, & South Korea and how long ago did we fight in those wars? We'll still be there long after we pull out. It's just a sad truth to war.

I personally don't like the sound of a rapid troop withdraw from Iraq within the next 16 months. Whatever happened to the time table that is waiting to be voted on to leave Iraq in 2011? It seems like a reasonable amount of time, and this gives Iraq plenty of time to adjust to running their own country, police, and military. Giving their military and police more of the missions and task the US Military does on a day to day, will also be a good thing. If we don't they'll never learn and it will be in a lot worse shape when we leave.

Grenville bases all upon the assumption that Iraqi upheaval and disintegration will remain confined to Iraq. I am unconvinced. A general Sunni vs. Shia war can be well placed into the offing with Iran and Syria acting as kingmakers. [the weakened Sunni states would be powerless to offset such an alliance,backed by Russia]. Syria already lied in saying that it was not seeking The Bomb as the IAEA has demonstrated. Iran can present the Bomb as a fait accompli in order to keep the Americans away from their territorial claims on Iraq which will include its oil production regions and its oil producing territories. Grenville is correct that al Qaeda will be brushed aside [but by differant opponants], as neither the Iranians,nor the Syrians,nor the Russians give a tinkers damn about ''international norms and laws''. Everyone and anyone in their paths will be crushed. Again Basra will become a central focus for the Iranians as it was in the 1980s,using regular troops and armour this time,instead of Medhi militias. Not for nothing has Iran engaged in large-scale military manouvres on Iraqs eastern borders where it introduced its newest medium-range missles. Israels response here will become predictable. The thing will widen. Not remain confined to a mere national border.

The only real reason the administration said we cannot be totally out of Iraq for three years is that this is the way it was planned, only to be there longer. The more we stall, the more they hope that there may be some peace agreement and/or some oil deal. This is why we are there to begin with and this administration will never admit that the purpose of this war was/is greed!!

I say we withdraw fast as possible who cares afterwards because we did plenty for them and all they do is hate us anyways. the Real threat is Russia and her new transalantic treaty trying to replace nato with russian nato with her as the leader with the USA as the target because everything russia is doing is aimed at our destruction. Real threat is Russia and Europe is appeaseing russia so bad it will cost them alot in the future i mean russia already making president 4 t0 6 years now plus Medv will drop out next year so putin can come back. He always been puppet to putin pretty shame for democracy that died at the hands of putin. Real threat is russia

One good point for this action is that Iraq will be forced to deal with its problems. Either cooperate with each other or face its own wrath. We've held their hands long enough to let them out on their own. A deal had to be made, and made by a lame duck President. Taking the US gloves off their internal struggles may hurt in the short run, but help stability in the long run.

What's not to love? We are begging to have the right to waste 10 Billion a month, risk our "troops" lives, complete the destruction of our forces...on the other hand, Pax America is still alive and well! It seems the Generals will have absolute control of Iraqi airspace, still control some 50 bases for a minimum of 10 Years, have righst to stockpile and transit military supplies at will and apoligize later if they accidently get used for fightlin Iraqi neighbors!