The Iraqi People Want Us Out
The Iraqi people are calling for us to leave and the majority of Americans want it, but Congress is like a deer in headlights. Withdrawal does not need to take 16 to 18 months--it can happen much more rapidly and will be more effective in a tighter window. This is certainly not a failure as ending this horrific occupation can only be regarded as a success. We say we stay because we care about the Iraqi people, but we have destroyed their country, continue to be ineffective in our efforts to rebuild and stabilize it and are doing NOTHING to ease the suffering of the 5 million Iraqi refugees and displaced persons inside and out of Iraq. Indeed, our presence in Iraq keeps the humanitarian aid they need away.
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Thank you for acknowledging that the Iraqi people want us out! This should be the end of the debate: occupying a country that has not attacked anyone is wrong, period. We cannot claim to be protectors of freedom and democracy while occupying a country against its people's will.
If we withdraw now while the Irag Government is not capable of defending themselves, we get another Vietnam. Maybe I am wrong but why take a chance. Let's be safe and not let millions of people be killed when we have a history lesson from Vietnam.
If the Iragi Government orders us to leave that's another story. It's on them. We need to keep our word and that is we promised the people that we would stay until the Government can defend itself.
The Iragi Government does not want us to leave immediately like some Americans want us to.
...but I do think that agreeing to a timetable for withdrawal counts as a "Yes" answer to this question. Answers such as yours -- that we have to wait until Iraq "can defend itself," and we'll stick around until we think that's the case -- are the "No" answer. The fact is that the Iraqi government wants US troops to begin drawing down in the near future. I think they're the ones best equipped to make the decision about their ability to defend themselves, and to make the determination about possible benefits vs. risks. You yourself admit that we ought to listen to what the Iraqi government wants. So why would you vote "No" in spite of it?
The keyword is immediately. No I do not think immediately.