Reply #8: I don't think Kerry was naive about the jihadists

[karynnj]

or that there would be turmoil. He was talking about training Iraqis to help them in their battles, which implies he knows they will face battles. If Bush would have had the countries that offered a year ago to train forces out of Iraq, we could more easily leave. If Kerry would have won, they would now have an army and police and it's possible that his diplomatic efforts would have given all entities a stake.

The Jihadists are a small part of the insurgents and they would have a harder time hiding from the Iraqis than from us. If a majority of the insurgents can be brought back into the community, it would reduce the number of insurgents and would isolate them. Ultimately it may be possible to get them out only after we leave.

Given so many bad decisions, it becomes a question of whether we are really helping or if we are just delaying events that will happen anyway.