Quote Originally Posted by spmetla
Khafir, with your limited military involvement of the US would you still support the use of our spec ops working with theirs, the training of Iraqis, and of course the support of the might USAF? Right now their govt has very little heavy equipment which doesn't give them much of edge over the average insurgent who already gets to take the initative in any military action. I know we're gonna give them a crap load of M60A3s and M113s which should help the capabilities of their forces but they still need to be taught how to use the damn things.
Personally, I have no problem with Special OPS continuing their mission, though it must be overseen closely and conditionally - i.e. defined as a training and oversight mission to Iraqi intelligence. The USAF will have a place in any administration that follows Bush43's - it is a gimme, and a necessity for any possible stability. The threat of bombs falling from no where, anywhere, any time is a deffinate detterent to the building of perminent bases by any terrorist factions, and may tends to keep the present Iraqi admin. in line.

As to supplying the Iraqi military with high tech munitions or armour - let them prove themselves to being committed to uniting the country as a nation first. Rather than pleasing Bush, let them prove to America that they care about their entire population and not just one sect (Shia).

Bottom line, for me, is we can't simply "be gone", but we must withdraw our troops to a safer position in the region. There is absolutely no reason for us to waste or risk the lives of our military personell for some unattainable goals that must be met by the nation's government we are now assisting.

Note: it was a fubar for us to invade, but to conceed entirely today would be as irresponsable as it was for us to leave behind all the Vietnamese that supported us in 'nam (and all the illegitate orphans, etc.). There must be a middle point, not a total surrender point - we must adjust to. Not a new day same thing, as the Bushies want - but, a new day, new way. Lets get real and not just political about the situation that Bush created. We cannot desert a situation simply because it is the easy way - but, we cannot continue as we are. We need a realistic political plan - as I said before, we must involve all the surrounding nations willing to assisting us in contributing to the stability of the region. It is time to get real about Iraq, and not just make it a political point that most Americans could care less about anyway.