Reply #45: Nothing in that says that we have to have a military presence.

[Dhalgren]

Of course we owe the Iraqi people a great deal and we should pay for it until the debt is done, but this was a illegal invasion and occupation. We cannot render it "legal" by remaining. In order to begin to set this mess right, we must first withdraw our forces. The Iraqis are quite capable of defending themselves, note the drubbing they have given the US military. The fact that they do not wish to live together in some form of harmony CANNOT be addressed while foreign troops are on their territory, killing their civilians. We can argue this till kingdom come, but US troops in Iraq cannot and will never bring stability, unless you want to kill off the entire Iraqi nation - hence the stability of the graveyard...

Oh, and by the way, "You break it you own it" is bullshit. We do not now, nor have we, nor will we ever "own" Iraq. Iraq is owned by the Iraqis....