End of the Iraq war

our grandson had two tours of afganistan, and one in iraq.When my turn came many years ago, I paid for my freedom, just like millions of us did.Afganistan was pay back, it was just. Iraq was an ego trip for a president.We kicked the talibans butts, and then we became stupid, NO ONE has ever won a war in afganistan.Why did we anj why are we staying?"?? And now the hawks are talking about Iran. NO way can we win there with out nukes. Why is west point still open if they believe you can win a war with a 5000 mile supply line?.

[QUOTE=Hlleonard;475339]--
Yes...There are situations in the world we have to involve our military in and I believe most americans are grateful to the men and women who choose to be part of it but we had no business in Iraq.[/QUOTE]

^^^This!

[QUOTE=C-Marshall;475295]You won your freedom,don't anaylize plain and simple.Our military did what they were asked to and done it well.Just appreciate what you have.[/QUOTE]

C-Marshall, I appreciate your service but I have to respectfully disagree. I can fully support our military while doing what I think is the most patriotic thing an American can do--question, analyze, and evaluate how they are used by our political leaders. If our politicians had a record of honesty in this area that would be one thing; but they don't.

[QUOTE=C-Marshall;475324]Sorry for the loss of your brother.Im a veteran of the gulf war myself served with the 82nd Airborne,8 years in the Army.All soldiers know what may be asked of them when they join and al know it might put them in harms way serving the country they love and serve.Its sad that it takes bloodshed to be free but that is the way the world is and without our brave soldiers we would be like all the middle east countries.Your brother is a Hero to all and all Americans owe great gratitude for those who have served past to the present.

All Gave Some Some Gave All!!![/QUOTE]

Amen to this!!!

My thanks to all members of our armed services also. Sincere condolences to you for your brother bassinbug, and to anyone else who lost family in the military.

Something must be done about the middle east. Their hate and violence cloaked in religion has worsened to the point where it has to be dealt with.

IMO there are only 2 ways to deal with them. 1. Nuke them till they glow. 2. Change their culture. ( No, Mr. Obama, there is not a third way, we've been talking to them for the last 50 years.)

If Iraq can manage to remain a democracy and keep radical religion out of government, it could seed true change in the region. This is a dim possibility, middle eastern religious factions have been killing people for thousands of years, but we had to try something different than just fighting with them. I won't try to judge whether it was worth so many American lives.

Did we win? History will decide.

At least America was committed to establishing a viable democracy in Iraq and then getting out. Our President, who felt the surge that turned the tide in Iraq was stupid, is now prosecuting a Viet Nam style political war in Afghanistan. Our guys are dying there, and the current administration has no stated overall goal except to withdraw by a certain date.

[QUOTE=Devils Horse;475/446]At least America was committed to establishing a viable democracy in Iraq and then getting out. Our President, who felt the surge that turned the tide in Iraq was stupid, is now prosecuting a Viet Nam style political war in Afghanistan. Our guys are dying there, and the current administration has no stated overall goal except to withdraw by a certain date.[/QUOTE]



You are aware of the fact that the reason we are getting out of Iraq now is because of a "withdraw by a certain date" agreement negotiated by the Bush administration in 2008 with the Iraqi government and not because we set up a fully functioning democracy over there?

[QUOTE=pontooner;475480]You are aware of the fact that the reason we are getting out of Iraq now is because of a "withdraw by a certain date" agreement negotiated by the Bush administration in 2008 with the Iraqi government and not because we set up a fully functioning democracy over there?[/QUOTE]

And if a fully functional government were not in place Mr. Obama would pull all the troops under the hole riddled SOFA agreement anyway? Yeah come to think of it he probably would, after all getting reelected is much more important than all those dead soldiers.

A lot of people believe Iraq will collapse without a US security force being left in place, but of course the President HAS to abide by that 10 page ironclad SOFA agreement. Besides he can always blame it on Bush if Iraq fails.

No one ever wins a war.. Glad our troops are coming home. Many died...Hussien died. Bin Laden died..I want the same media for our brethen that died....That these evil men did. Our hereos....the ones that are the living dead as well....

THANK YOU FOR DEFENDING MY FAMILY

[QUOTE=pontooner;475248]With the Iraq war ending what are some of you guys thoughts about it?

Such as do you feel like we won, what did we accomplish, just you overall thoughts on the whole thing.......[/QUOTE]
I'm glad it's over. I feel like what we won, we won within the first few weeks - getting rid of Saddam being the biggest thing. Then we spent the next few years cleaning up. And I don't really know the full extent of what we've accomplished. Some of the most important work we were doing was rebuilding infrastructure, and I for one don't really know how far along that work is. I guess we'll find out what we've really accomplished over the next few years, when we see what kind of country Iraq becomes.

[QUOTE=Devils Horse;475482]And if a fully functional government were not in place Mr. Obama would pull all the troops under the hole riddled SOFA agreement anyway? Yeah come to think of it he probably would, after all getting reelected is much more important than all those dead soldiers.

A lot of people believe Iraq will collapse without a US security force being left in place, but of course the President HAS to abide by that 10 page ironclad SOFA agreement. Besides he can always blame it on Bush if Iraq fails.[/QUOTE]


Do you think we should stay in Iraq longer?

I just thought it was funny that you thought the idea of getting out of Afghanistan by a certain date was such a bad idea but that is really why were getting out of Iraq now and you didn't seem to concerend about the "end date" for it.

And yes I know Obama could have kept troops there longer if he wanted to but I along with a majority of people always thought he should have ended it years ago so if you think ending it now is going to do him any favors come election time i just don't see it.

[QUOTE=pontooner;475579]Do you think we should stay in Iraq longer?

I just thought it was funny that you thought the idea of getting out of Afghanistan by a certain date was such a bad idea but that is really why were getting out of Iraq now and you didn't seem to concerend about the "end date" for it.

And yes I know Obama could have kept troops there longer if he wanted to but I along with a majority of people always thought he should have ended it years ago so if you think ending it now is going to do him any favors come election time i just don't see it.[/QUOTE]

I think we've had large numbers of troops in Iraq long enough. The question would be why military commanders felt we should keep a security force there, and Mr. Obama ignored them.

You don't see him taking credit for ending the Iraqi war as helping him with the election? I gave you more credit than that tooner. Wait till he really starts campaigning and see if he happens to bring it up.

[QUOTE=Devils Horse;475582]You don't see him taking credit for ending the Iraqi war as helping him with the election? I gave you more credit than that tooner. Wait till he really starts campaigning and see if he happens to bring it up.[/QUOTE]


Of course he's going to take credit for it (already has by the way) just like any politican will take credit for anything good that happens on their watch.

I just don't think it will work to his advantage like you think it will because like I said "a majority of people always thought he should have ended it years ago" and he did campaign on ending it asap if elected so I just don't see this as being something that would change a election in his favor.

If you think about it I would think it might hurt him more than help since he took this long to end it because of what he campaigned on. JMHO