How many troops should Obama should leave in Iraq?

[Dawgs]

Poll question: How many troops should Obama should leave in Iraq?

I am personally okay with the timetable Obama has set for troop withdrawal. It's not the 16 months he promised, but it's pretty damn close.

I'm NOT okay with 50,000 troops being left behind. But, I also think it's unrealistic to expect him to keep anything less than 15,000.

So, what do you think? How many troops should Obama should leave in Iraq?

FWIW, Pelosi says that some should be left, but not 50,000. Schumer said, "Fifty-thousand is more than I would have thought."

[tularetom]

1. Eighteen, so they can play baseball every day.

[tekisui]

2. The number is not set. It could be 35,000-50,000. Then more will

leave until Dec 2011. That is the number I want to know. And, that number should be zero.

[underpants]

3. It will be about 35-45K for the foreseeable future

that giant embassy is going to need protecting
so are all the civilian contractors

Not that I like it but that is the number they will get down to

this was of course one of the main reasons for the PNAC inspired invasion of Iraq-establish a US ground force (not just air and navy) in the middle east.

Think this makes Israel nervous? They are no longer our only "reach" into the region.

[Orsino]

4. Zero, unless as part of a UN force.

If so, we should probably not be seen as running that show too unilaterally.