Quote Originally Posted by Whacker
It's been 5 years, and it's crunch time. It takes what, a few months at best to go through boot camp for the army? Add on top of that another few months for some additional training? 5 years and how many thousands of dead soldiers, it's time to start cutting the cord. A year from now is far more than enough time to have a very large contingent of sovereign forces trained and on duty.



That's what we've been saying. Freedom ain't free, you fight for it and sometimes have to spill your blood for it, my ancestors did in the American Revolution, the Civil War, and in World War II. Thanks to them I live in a place where I don't have to worry about nonsense like that, but if it came down to it I'd definitely fight for my and my family's freedoms. If the Iraqi people will not stand up to ensure this, then they deserve whatever fate gives them. It's been 5 friggin' years, and we'll give them another one for good measure. When that year is up, all bets are off. I've already voted and written my congressman support the resolution to withdraw completely in a year. For all you non-Americans who keep harping on "America needs to stay" because "leaving the Iraqis isn't the right thing to do!", please read above. It's been far too long, and if they can't stand on their own feet in a years time, that's too bad. Or perhaps you all would like to ante up some significant troop presense to take care of this? Sorry, but this just annoys me to no end, when people are free with criticisms but short on actions.
Whacker:

You are seeing this much to black and white my friend. Something like Iraq, done as poorly as it was, takes many years if not decades to fully recover. We should be Iraq for another 10 years + at this rate of current progress.

This is not the Iraqis' fault in the least. It is our fault with our piss poor planning and execution of the war.

Comparing what you ancestors did in the American Revolution and Civil War are of little relevance to the war in Iraq sadly. Two totally different situations in two total different time periods in two totally different parts of the world.