NationStates Jolt Archive

Tony Blair hinted that a timetable for withdrawl may be coming out in the next few months. Until then, I want to play a fun game: speculation!
Personally, I feel that troop levels will be around 130,000 sometime this summer. The insurgency will be somewhat quieter by then, and the Iraqi forces should be making a significant dent by then. Massive withdrawls, however, will begine in January 2007, one year after a pernament Iraqi government is expected to be formed.

Tony Blair hinted that a timetable for withdrawl may be coming out in the next few months. Until then, I want to play a fun game: speculation!
Personally, I feel that troop levels will be around 130,000 sometime this summer. The insurgency will be somewhat quieter by then, and the Iraqi forces should be making a significant dent by then. Massive withdrawls, however, will begine in January 2007, one year after a pernament Iraqi government is expected to be formed.

Why would insurgency be quieter? Troop levels that high is hard to believe. Why do you think Iraqi foces would make a dent?

I think after 2006 we will see some withdrawals, butnot till Bush is gone will we have a chance of leaving.

Why leave?

Iraq is the PERFECT launching-pad for an Invasion of Iran. We won't have to hastle to get places to invade from: We've got Iraq, Afghanistan, and (probably) Pakistan. We can just crush the borders.

Besides, the troops are already in the region. We can think of it as one massive campaign.

Why would insurgency be quieter?

Because the Shi'ites and Kurds will feel empowered, and fight back.
Why do you think Iraqi foces would make a dent?

Same reason.

I am looking at a long time before they are reduced. The insurgents do not want the USA there and there are many insurgents IMO. There have been rallies staged asking for the USA to withdraw. The only saving grace may be that once the new Government is in place and they can restructure the oil contracts to American corporate advantage we might start to attempt to reduce troops. On another note we may never leave as this is a nice strategic place to put military bases to fight the " War on terror "

Why leave? It seems like a very good place to fight terrorism. Seriously, we keep killing and capturing highly placed terrorists, so why stop?

According to President Bush yesterday, it will be at least two years.

Why would insurgency be quieter? Troop levels that high is hard to believe. Why do you think Iraqi foces would make a dent?

I think after 2006 we will see some withdrawals, butnot till Bush is gone will we have a chance of leaving.
We already have about 130,000 soldiers in Iraq

Why leave? It seems like a very good place to fight terrorism. Seriously, we keep killing and capturing highly placed terrorists, so why stop?
Excellent logic. I'd rather fight them there than here.

Why leave? It seems like a very good place to fight terrorism. Seriously, we keep killing and capturing highly placed terrorists, so why stop?
Well I doubt we'll leave completely for at least fifty years. But I doubt that any troop levels won't be over 20,000 in ten years.

Well I doubt we'll leave completely for at least fifty years. But I doubt that any troop levels won't be over 20,000 in ten years.
It would be a nice place to relocate the US forces that are in Europe.

It would be a nice place to relocate the US forces that are in Europe.
But I don't think that such high troop levels are needed. Ultimately, we'll conduct mostly surgical strikes on specific cells, and not constant assaults on other nations (although another regime is bound to fall in the war on terrorism).

Well I doubt we'll leave completely for at least fifty years. But I doubt that any troop levels won't be over 20,000 in ten years.

Well, thats presuming we win.

Of course, I think we'll win, but if we don't win, we'll be outta there in about 5-10 more years(A la Vietnam)

Well, thats presuming we win.

Of course, I think we'll win, but if we don't win, we'll be outta there in about 5-10 more years(A la Vietnam)
I'm confident that we'll "win", although we won't know the day of victory when it comes.

But I don't think that such high troop levels are needed. Ultimately, we'll conduct mostly surgical strikes on specific cells, and not constant assaults on other nations (although another regime is bound to fall in the war on terrorism).
Problem with bringing them back to the US is the temptation to draw down even more.

I don't think you'll ever win. And I think there will be a lot of Americans being made dead in Iraq for a long time to come. How long? How many young Americans you got?

That's how long.

I'd rather fight them there than here.

Get your ass over to Iraq then.

Why leave?

Iraq is the PERFECT launching-pad for an Invasion of Iran. We won't have to hastle to get places to invade from: We've got Iraq, Afghanistan, and (probably) Pakistan. We can just crush the borders.

Besides, the troops are already in the region. We can think of it as one massive campaign.

Seconded. Plus you have a massive stronghold in Middle-East. Probably have a military base there. But don't need the numbers they do now.

I don't think you'll ever win. And I think there will be a lot of Americans being made dead in Iraq for a long time to come. How long? How many young Americans you got?

That's how long.

We've got enough. And they all volunteer.

Get your ass over to Iraq then.
Some of us have been.

Leave!!! But we just got to Iraq!! I'm waiting for Bush to say something about Lebensraum in conjuction with Iraq. Or Walt Disney Presents Iraq.

The USA will leave as soon as

a) Some sort of goverment is in place, so that the US can say "Our job here is done" and get the hell out, even if such goverment is incapable of efectively and peacefully govern iraq.
b) Its military planing for the region deems necessary to stay in Iraq
c) It as placed its oil companies and other assorted companies exploiting Iraq's resources.

Bump.
And please, no more flaming. Otherwise, I will be forced to ask this thread to be locked.

bump

When will troops start withdrawing from Iraq?
Once the oil fields are depleted.

I voted "sometime beyond", but that's assuming that the U.S. withdraws voluntarily rather than being forced out the way they probably will be. Sometime before the next election, the insurgents will take over, forcing the U.S. out Iran-style. Bush will try to send a team to rescue hostages, and it won't work...these Islamists don't pull any punches. Then in 2008, the GOP will get the shit kicked out of them in the elections.

The moment they go into Iran.

Just a quick thought I had while reading some of the posts here.

Some people who consider it wise to stay in Iraq simply to kill terrorists drawn to the area might do well to consider the history of penicillin.

Eventually some microbes built up a resistance to it.

Staying in Iraq for the terrorists may lead to a crippling of their networks. It could also lead to a rather nasty form of Darwinism.

Like I said, just a random thought I had.

Once the oil fields are depleted.
That I think is a part of the issue.

I think the fingers in haliburton are a big part of the story too.

The moment they go into Iran.

I refuse to believe we will go into Iran. (I say we because where ever the US goes we will end up following) I refuse to belive not because of any evidence or faith in the leaders, but because I don't think I could cope with seeing the fabric of world peice being ripped appart peice by peice.