End of the Iraq war

[Devils Horse]

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.

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.

[pontooner]

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.

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

[parker]

Ronald Reagen actually started this war. He gave iraq the weapons to fend off iran and sadam used what was left over on his own people. Then sadam threatened george jr dad and that in a nutshell is why our soldiers were there. Obama got them out and almost the end of the story. The US Soldiers won the war and get all the credit for doing what they were told! Congrats to men like C-Marshall who came back and a special thanks to the ones who did not! I have my freedom because of all US SOLDIERS! Politicians screw up everything and SOLDIERS have to straighten out the mess.

[Devils Horse]

Ronald Reagen actually started this war. He gave iraq the weapons to fend off iran and sadam used what was left over on his own people. Then sadam threatened george jr dad and that in a nutshell is why our soldiers were there. Obama got them out and almost the end of the story. The US Soldiers won the war and get all the credit for doing what they were told! Congrats to men like C-Marshall who came back and a special thanks to the ones who did not! I have my freedom because of all US SOLDIERS! Politicians screw up everything and SOLDIERS have to straighten out the mess.

Let me get this straight. Ronald Reagan started this war because he gave Saddam the mostly Russian weapons and nerve gas he used on his own people? He gave him the MIGs and HINDs that made up their air force? A bit of stretch...but if you insist. What about the training camps and support/sponsorship of terrorists Saddam provided? Did Mr. Reagan give him that too?

I agree 100% with your points about soldiers. I served, and have the utmost gratitude and respect for our armed forces.

President Obama did bring all of them home, and let's hope that's the end of the story. If Iraq collapses and returns to being a terrorist state, will that be Ronald Reagan's fault? George Bush's? It couldn't possibly be Mr. Obama's fault, the poor guy is just stuck cleaning up after those nasty Republicans.

If we just get out of the middle east and mind our own business they'll play nice, and not attack us anymore. Right? After that the war with terrorists is over. Right?

Just speaking rhetorically, because everyone knows once we're out of Irag and Afghanistan they'll leave us alone, but what if some more middle eastern psychopaths kill a few thousand more innocent Americans? What should we do about it?

Have Hillary Clinton apply the always highly effective diplomatic pressure? Kick some ass? Have Ron Paul give them a speech? What?

[Devils Horse]

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

Okay, we'll see how he handles it during his real campaign (not the one he's been running since he took office).

[C-Marshall]

Iraq war should have been over the first time there.Instead of doing the job right the first time we slapped them on the hand and left,mission not completed!Saddam was in the cross hairs and no order was given to take him out.Maybe the politicians will learn from that mistake.Get it right the first time and be done.

Aphganistan,should be done,Osama is dead so let's bring our troops home.No reason to be there now.Mission completed!

[Tim_T]

Iraq war should have been over the first time there.Instead of doing the job right the first time we slapped them on the hand and left,mission not completed!Saddam was in the cross hairs and no order was given to take him out.Maybe the politicians will learn from that mistake.Get it right the first time and be done.

Aphganistan,should be done,Osama is dead so let's bring our troops home.No reason to be there now.Mission completed!

C -Marshall, let me first say thank you for your service, because I neglected to say it earlier. I do disagree that we didn't do the job the first time. During Bush sr.'s term, we went to war with Iraq with a stated goal and that was to drive them out of Kuwait and that is exactly what we did. There was a stated mission and when the mission was accomplished we got out. During this second time around it never seemed we actually had a military objective, or if there was one, I don't recall what it was. The whole reason for going there was supposed to be WMD's but none were found.

IMO we lost focus on what the real job should have been, which was getting Bin Laden and taking care of terrorists in Afghanistan.

[C-Marshall]

C -Marshall, let me first say thank you for your service, because I neglected to say it earlier. I do disagree that we didn't do the job the first time. During Bush sr.'s term, we went to war with Iraq with a stated goal and that was to drive them out of Kuwait and that is exactly what we did. There was a stated mission and when the mission was accomplished we got out. During this second time around it never seemed we actually had a military objective, or if there was one, I don't recall what it was. The whole reason for going there was supposed to be WMD's but none were found.

IMO we lost focus on what the real job should have been, which was getting Bin Laden and taking care of terrorists in Afghanistan.

Thanks Tim,I appreciate you and your thoughts.Just glad the war is over,WMD'S or not,in this case none were found.

[HURRICANEBOB]

Iraq war should have been over the first time there.Instead of doing the job right the first time we slapped them on the hand and left,mission not completed!Saddam was in the cross hairs and no order was given to take him out.Maybe the politicians will learn from that mistake.Get it right the first time and be done.

Aphganistan,should be done,Osama is dead so let's bring our troops home.No reason to be there now.Mission completed!

We made that mistake in WWII when Patton was ready to kick the Russians butt and we didn't. Had he come out the first time, I agree we'd not have to have gone after him after he had plenty of time to get his forces strong again, and to continue trying to develop the WMD.

I do think we could have been more decisive in Iraq the second time. Personally, I'd like us to take more of an Isreali way of doing business. ie.e
"I don't care how screwed up your country is, but if you hit me with a twig, I'm going to wail on you with an oak tree". Their defense is based on a promise that attacking them gets you more pain than you can inflict. I like that, decisive, focused, swift, retribution, and equally lethal preemptive strikes when the evidence supports it.