Based on current developments in Iraq, what should the U.S. do?

[prolesunited]

Poll question: Based on current developments in Iraq, what should the U.S. do?

Let's base this on the premise that we shouldn't be there in the first place. I think most of us agree on that point.

Please elaborate on your reasoning for your answer

Poll result (101 votes)
Turn over government to Iraq June 30, troops remain	(3 votes, 3%)	Vote
Turn over government to Iraq June 30, troops leave	(2 votes, 2%)	Vote
Hold off turning over country until situation stabilized, troop level stays same	(0 votes, 0%)	Vote
Hold off turning over country until situation stabilized, increase troop level	(3 votes, 3%)	Vote
Get U.N. involved and remain part of international force	(50 votes, 50%)	Vote
Get U.N. involved, pull out U.S. troops	(23 votes, 23%)	Vote
Immediate withdrawal now	(18 votes, 18%)	Vote
Other	(2 votes, 2%)	Vote

[Guaranteed]

1. Just get out.

The occupation has officially become pointless.

[prolesunited]

2. Did you vote other?

Immediate withdrawal is an option right above other. If you didn't, perhaps I missed an option that I can add within the editable time period.

[coltman]

11. an option..

get out now leave the armor with the engines running.

[prolesunited]

15. Why would we want

to leave all of the equipment and munitions behind? I don't think that would be the best course of action.

[coltman]

16. because .......

maybe they would use it to help end this blood-bath, like on each other.

[prolesunited]

17. So, you think it would be a *good* thing

if we left them the armaments so they could kill each-other?

So, if they killed each-other than WE wouldn't have to do it? What did the Iraqis do that THEY somehow "deserve" to die?

I really would like to understand your perspective, so please elaborate.

[NoPasaran]

3. Pack our bags and get the hell out of there

Every bomb we drop, every shot we fire recruits more to the ranks of the opposition and makes things worse, both for Iraq and for us. We should recognize the right of the Iraqi people to run their own country. If they want to bring in the UN to help establish order, it should be their decision, not ours. I still we think we have the moral obligation to finance the physical reconstruction of Iraq, but we need to get our people out of there.

[LeahMira]

6. Am I allowed to say...

... that I really like Dennis Kucinich's Ten Step idea which someone posted on another thread. (Don't know if I'm supposed to mention a candidate on this board.) Anyhow, it's the only plan that makes sense to me of those that have been proposed so far.

[prolesunited]

8. I think they've relaxed the rules on that a bit

Why don't you post a link to the plan and we'll see what the mods do?

[prolesunited]

7. Just playing devil's advocate here

What would you say to the people that note to "turn tail and run" would make us look like chicken-shits (U.S. does NOT retreat) and undermine our authority.

[NoPasaran]

10. I say those people are idiots

We spent ten years, fifty thousand American lives, another half million American wounded, millions of Vietnamese lives and billions of dollars before we finally retreated from Vietnam. We badly damaged our own society in the process and as a sideshow devastated Cambodia. We would have been better off not fighting that war. Every day we stayed there was a crime. We are now repeating the process in Iraq.

A peaceful, democratic Middle East would be a wonderful thing. This is not the strategy to achieve it. Bad as things are already, I can only see things getting worse.

[davhill]

4. Any option in which US troops remain

will only continue to aggravate the situation. They are fighting for their freedom from us. We can only give it unconditionally or suppress it brutally.

[bloom]

20. That's how I see it

I don't think this administration is capable of making a reasonable decision and helping with diplomacy/peaceful resolutions.

I think the UN is the only possible hope for help.

[chelsea0011]

5. Declare victory and leave

Just like Vietnam. And after leaving, all hell will break loose in Iraq. Just like Vietnam.

[LeahMira]

12. It seems that way now!

And after leaving, all hell will break loose in Iraq. Just like Vietnam.

All hell seems to be breaking loose right now.

I wonder if the historians here can tell what the situation was before the state of Iraq was formed. Were there not bands or tribes or groups all living in the area that is now Iraq? Were they not pretty much each in their own general territory? Was Kuwait not at one time part of that overall territory? I don't know. I ask because it seems that when more powerful nations force diverse peoples to live with a single political entity rather than letting them have their own space and their own rules it works out to be a bad idea for everyone.

Maybe the better idea would be to divide the country into areas so that each group could have its sovereignty in its own area. Of course it might happen that the group located by the oil fields might not be a "secular" group... oh my!

[NoPasaran]

26. Before modern Iraq was formed

The area was known as Mesopotamia and had been a part of the Ottoman Empire for several centuries. The British conquered the area during the First World War and installed their ally Feisal (Alec Guinness' character from "Lawrence of Arabia") on the throne.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

9. Get U.N. involved, pull out U.S. troops...

...but negotiate a ceasefire with the P.O.'d Iraqis first. Say "Let's stop shooting and then we leave."

[LeahMira]

13. Hmmm...

... negotiate a ceasefire with the P.O.'d Iraqis first. Say "Let's stop shooting and then we leave."

That's what the Israelis are telling the Palestinians: "Stop the terrorism and then we'll end the occupation." It isn't working real well for the Israelis or the Palestinians, is it?

[NNN0LHI]

14. We need to start talking turkey with Sadr's people immediately

Like it or not Bush has turned him into the next Saddam. This guy is going to lead Iraq when it is all said and done. We need to open communications with Sadr and attempt to sue for peace ASAP, if we had not done so already. Anything short of this will be either unachievable or unacceptable.

Don

[prolesunited]

18. More responses please

[CaptainClark23]

19. Steps

1. Pull troops out of urban areas to desert bases and Kuwait. This will cut down on attacks against US forces.

2. Impeach, with great prejudice, the POTUS.

3. Issue a National Apology to the citizens of Iraq on the basis that our government had been taken over by madmen.

4. Offer the services of our troops to the UN as an rapid deploy peacekeeping force.

5. Send a high level delegation of US representatives, led by J. Carter to Bagdhad to offer help to the Iraqis in forming a new government.

6. Refuse to acknowledge any individual who claims to speak for Iraq unless they have been voted into such position by a verifiable popular vote or parlimentary vote. (no more Chalabi)

7. Begin the cleanup of depleted uranium contamination.

8. Via the UN, begin to work out a method of compensation for personal and institutional damages, payable by work performed on infrastructure.

9. Creation of a US-Iraqi Trade Council from which multi-national companies are to be excluded.

10. Creation of a project for cultural awareness. Begin student exchange programs. Endeavor to open Iraq to international tourism.

thats a start.

[BiggJawn]

21. Go to the UN, grovel, beg, whatever...

Just get some HELP peeling this tar-baby off of us! Tell the UN they're driving, whatever, just get the shooting stopped.

Get Halliburton's fangs out of the Iraqi oil fields. there has be SOME company that's honest enough to help get the oil goiong for them w/o stealing it, isn't there?

Once Halliburton's gone (oh, BTW, that 67 billion we gave you? give it back, please) then put out to INTERNATIONAL bid the task of fixing what we broke. If US companies get passed over, tough shit, you guys already raked in enough from the BFEE..

Then....

I then think that EVERYONE who signed that 1996 PNAC letter and the entire Bush family/administration should pay the Ultimate Price for their Treason.
These Neo-Cons need to learn that it's dangerous to use the United States for your "Dr. Strangelove" play-toy....

[truthspeaker]

22. Two words: Get the fuck out

[Triple H]

23. Isn't that four?

Anyways, I agree. Let's get the F out now!

[prolesunited]

24. For those who stuck to the June 30 turnover date

What would be the reason you are in favor of carrying out Bush's plan?

[Kathy in Cambridge]

25. Get UN Involved and Get the Hell Out

Fallujah was a huge mistake and I fear the worst for our forces in Iraq. They are now fighting a two-front war. They need the UN's help.

[Avalux]

27. UN!!!

Those dipwads have to suck it up, admit they were wrong, and let the UN manage the situation. They won't though.