NationStates Jolt Archive

Here is my exit strategy.

Just leave. Plain and simple, I realize that to leave now would cost the lives of tens of thousands of Iraqi's but hey, it would keep a couple hundred people like me, who choose to put our lives on the line to help others, safe from the violence that we are trained to and know how to take care of. That is what the liberals want, they don't give a fuck about Iraq and they have made this quite clear. None of them do, to them Iraq is just another country where people have to struggle to survive everyday and for us to go over there, remove one of the worst dictators of the 20th Century (That is really bad.) and stick around to help pick up the pieces is just terrible. The fact that we could dare attempt to do something like that because it is not like we have any experience with nation building. (Phillipines, post WWII Europe, Japan, South Korea, and didn't we help Taiwan too?) Who are we to try and lend a helping hand to those who were incapable of fighting for themselves. We are bastards and we should leave Iraq now like dogs with out tale between our legs. Hey, I know, why don't we loot the nation on out way out to try and pay for the $190 billion that Iraq has cost us. Sounds like a plan to me, I am going get the Democratic Party to back in the next years congressional elections under a "Fuck Iraq! Let's run like hell!" platform.

Your thoughts?

Nice strawman. Nice way to shift the responsibility for a conservative mess onto liberals too. You're good at this. Maybe Karl Rove will find a job for you.

Nice strawman. Nice way to shift the responsibility for a conservative mess onto liberals too. You're good at this. Maybe Karl Rove will find a job for you.

Well, they're the ones that want to leave before we get the job done so might as well give them credit where it is due.

Well, they're the ones that want to leave before we get the job done so might as well give them credit where it is due.
I'm a liberal and I've never advocating leaving before the job is done. I also never advocated going in to begin with, but nobody ever listens to folks like me. I feel like that broad from Greek mythology, Cassandra, who told folks what kind of bad shit was going to happen, but they never beleived her.

we already have an exit strategy, its called victory

we already have an exit strategy, its called victory

Really. Well Bush proclaimed victory in 2003. Why haven't we exited?

Really. Well Bush proclaimed victory in 2003. Why haven't we exited?


he proclaimed the end of ground opperations against the bathist government

we already have an exit strategy, its called victory
:rolleyes: :p

Food for thought:

http://www.lp.org/exitplan.pdf

I'm a liberal and I've never advocating leaving before the job is done. I also never advocated going in to begin with, but nobody ever listens to folks like me. I feel like that broad from Greek mythology, Cassandra, who told folks what kind of bad shit was going to happen, but they never beleived her.

I've never advocated leaving either!

Stop stereotyping us liberals.

Random politcal joke:
Conservatives starting topics about Iraqi exit strategies is like me starting a topic about sex. It's foolish because neither of us have any experience with the subject.

we already have an exit strategy, its called victory

Define this "victory". What does it entail? How will we know when we've achieved it?

To me Victory is leaving Iraq with a stable government and Army large enough to defend it from any attacks from within or external, and having ensured that Democracy will be the form of government for years to come. I don't think we have really advocated anything else as being a total victory.

I really must say, it is humorous and incredibly frustrating when people claim that they are against the administration but supportive of our troops. Most who have been to Iraq are proud of what they have done and after seeing the devastation that Saddam brought to these people would go back again. I am a member of several forums for members of the military and all who have served in Iraq say they would go again if asked to. Seems to me like nobody is asking the troops how they feel about Iraq. I saw one soldier speaking to CNN after the attack on Faluja but other than that the major networks ignore the troops, except when trying to use the death of a soldier as a tool against the administration.

To me Victory is leaving Iraq with a stable government and Army large enough to defend it from any attacks from within or external, and having ensured that Democracy will be the form of government for years to come. I don't think we have really advocated anything else as being a total victory.

I really must say, it is humorous and incredibly frustrating when people claim that they are against the administration but supportive of our troops. Most who have been to Iraq are proud of what they have done and after seeing the devastation that Saddam brought to these people would go back again. I am a member of several forums for members of the military and all who have served in Iraq say they would go again if asked to. Seems to me like nobody is asking the troops how they feel about Iraq. I saw one soldier speaking to CNN after the attack on Faluja but other than that the major networks ignore the troops, except when trying to use the death of a soldier as a tool against the administration.
It's not the troop's job to make policy. We're supposed to have a responsible and intelligent government to do that. How the troops feel about being in Iraq is irrelevent. They're sent to do a job whether they like it or not, and they'll leave when they're told whether they like it or not.

It's not the troop's job to make policy. We're supposed to have a responsible and intelligent government to do that. How the troops feel about being in Iraq is irrelevent. They're sent to do a job whether they like it or not, and they'll leave when they're told whether they like it or not.

That is true, but just like Vietnam they will be blamed for what will be a politically loss when we do end up leaving Iraq in shambles, again.

To me Victory is leaving Iraq with a stable government and Army large enough to defend it from any attacks from within or external, and having ensured that Democracy will be the form of government for years to come. I don't think we have really advocated anything else as being a total victory.

Playing Devil's Advocate here, what happens if the Iraqis elect a fundamental Islamic dictator. Are we going to respect the course that democracy took in the country, or are we going to force our idea of democracy upon them?


I really must say, it is humorous and incredibly frustrating when people claim that they are against the administration but supportive of our troops. Most who have been to Iraq are proud of what they have done and after seeing the devastation that Saddam brought to these people would go back again. I am a member of several forums for members of the military and all who have served in Iraq say they would go again if asked to. Seems to me like nobody is asking the troops how they feel about Iraq. I saw one soldier speaking to CNN after the attack on Faluja but other than that the major networks ignore the troops, except when trying to use the death of a soldier as a tool against the administration.

My brother sings a very different song. He hates what he did in Iraq, and wants nothing to do with that country for the rest of his life. I don't think there's any unified belief that the troops hold about their time in Iraq.

Playing Devil's Advocate here, what happens if the Iraqis elect a fundamental Islamic dictator. Are we going to respect the course that democracy took in the country, or are we going to force our idea of democracy upon them?

So long as he peacefully leaves office when his term is up there will be no reason for us to become involved.


My brother sings a very different song. He hates what he did in Iraq, and wants nothing to do with that country for the rest of his life. I don't think there's any unified belief that the troops hold about their time in Iraq.

National Guard, Army Reserve or Regular Army?

National Guard, Army Reserve or Regular Army?

Reserves.

Walking away is not an option.

US walked away from Afghanistan after the Soviet withdrawal. That led to the taliban and 9-11.

Walking away from Iraq would be even worse. Much much worse. Not just for US/Iraq but for the immediate region of ME but also in the extended neighborhood of South Asia and Central Asia.

Exit Strategy: Hurry up and train some military and police, arm them to the teeth and get the hell out. Let them run things how they want after that.

As for not a single liberal caring about Iraq? :rolleyes:
Please - why do you think we didn't want them goign in in the first place? We didn't believe this was about liberation and still don't. We didn't want any blood spilled. You are liberating them from their physical bodies maybe. Liberating them from having jobs, clean running water and electricity.

The Bush Administration sure shows a lot of compassion too. "We're fighting them over there so we don't have to deal with terrorists here" - great! That's caring about the Iraqi people isn't it? I'm sure the Iraqi people thank us profusely for turning iraq into a big pile of explosive diarreah.

You know what? there is no end to terrorism or the people who terrorists can recruit, but there are ways to reduce it and killing terrorists isn't the way. Theres this thing called foreign policy that can be a help or a hindrance in this regard. Learn what is what if you want to make a positive difference.

Get over yourself and look at the real culprits in this. The ones who started the war in the first place. It would be nice to see some of you "patriots" denounce the idiotic moves made by President Knee-Jerk Reaction and the PNAC pack.

Well, they're the ones that want to leave before we get the job done so might as well give them credit where it is due.
The "liberals" were also the ones who didn't want the war in the first place, so this stance reflects an unchanging view on the war... (you seem to have forgotten that little bit).

I'm serious when I ask this.

Would any war opponents please define "exit strategy"? As best I can tell "exit strategy" means that we should give specific deadlines for certain results. i.e. on September 30, 2006 we will have such and such accomplished and reduce our military force by x%. I take issue with this because wars don't follow a script, so the only choices would be (1) being criticized for not following the plan, (2) being criticized for not meeting self-imposed deadlines, or (3) stubbornly withdrawing troops in designated quantities at designated times, regardless of its impact on the mission.

As for not a single liberal caring about Iraq? :rolleyes:
Please - why do you think we didn't want them goign in in the first place? We didn't believe this was about liberation and still don't. We didn't want any blood spilled. You are liberating them from their physical bodies maybe. Liberating them from having jobs, clean running water and electricity.
can be a help or a hindrance in this regard. Learn what is what if you want to make a positive difference.

As I recall, the only objection was that the U.S. didn't have full U.N. support when they went in. The war had substantial support among Democrats in the Congress, including presidential candidate John Kerry, and substantial support against self-proclaimed liberals in U.S. public opinion polls.

You can't really turn it around afterward and say that you warned us this would happen or whatever. When images of the Iraqis tearing down the Saddam Hussein statue in Baghdad was first broadcast, you were thinking "thank goodness we got rid of that tyrant" just like everyone else was.

Have you read 1984?

You know what? there is no end to terrorism or the people who terrorists can recruit, but there are ways to reduce it and killing terrorists isn't the way. Theres this thing called foreign policy that can be a help or a hindrance in this regard. Learn what is what if you want to make a positive difference.

This is actually a good idea. We should open diplomatic relations with terrorist organizations. The President could appoint diplomats to al queada and hammas or whoever. We could give Osama bin Laden a seat on the United Nations Security Council. We could give other terrorist organizations representation too. Islamic terrorist organizations would no longer want to destroy Israel and the United States if we just sat down at the same table, set aside our differences. We could all sing "Kumbaya" and hold hands afterwards, and all this fighting would just seem silly. :)

nice speech dude and i do agree that we should get out of iraq cause its causeing us billions and lives of soldiers and I think that we did enough for iraq all ready.

As I recall, the only objection was that the U.S. didn't have full U.N. support when they went in. The war had substantial support among Democrats in the Congress, including presidential candidate John Kerry, and substantial support against self-proclaimed liberals in U.S. public opinion polls.

You can't really turn it around afterward and say that you warned us this would happen or whatever. When images of the Iraqis tearing down the Saddam Hussein statue in Baghdad was first broadcast, you were thinking "thank goodness we got rid of that tyrant" just like everyone else was.

Have you read 1984?


I'm not a democrat and democrats aren't liberal, they just aren't as crazy with greed and corruption as the Republican party, although I think they are close.

Yes - even Bush Sr. warned of what would happen in Iraq, but the current Bush administration said it would be "a matter of days, or maybe weeks" as I recall that we would be in Iraq. They said we have to go now because Iraq can kill us in 45 minutes. They said Saddam is collaborating with AQ and could be coming after the US. They said we would be greeted with flowers and chocolates by the civilians - not bombs and bullets.

I could care less about the UN's objection to the war except as a point that others can see the Iraq war was bullshit too. If they would have been in favor of the war I would still have been against it.

Anyway we shouldn't be building a bunch of enduring US bases in iraq. Quit giving people reasons to commit terrorists acts against the US.

Give them seats at the security counsel? Are you seriously thinking I want something like that? Is the world so black and white to you that having negotiations with someone means that you are completely caving? Don't you think the US govt. should reduce actions that are provoking violent acts upon its civilians?

understanding the enemy and their motivations is key to understanding the solution to the problem. runnign roughshod thru the middle east killing innocent people in your wake isn't going to end terrorism (it's going to provoke the beast and possibly make it stronger), and it isn't going to make you any friends (at least not the kind of friends I want my govt. associating with).

Give we the people of the world some help in forming a more perfect union my friend. What the hell does Kumbaya mean anyway?

nice speech dude and i do agree that we should get out of iraq cause its causeing us billions and lives of soldiers and I think that we did enough for iraq all ready.
Nice opening post on the forum. While it's nice to see you do know that the period key exists on the keyboard, let's take a look at what your statement would look like if it was better written.

Nice speech dude. I do agree that we should get out of Iraq because it's costing us billions and the lives of soliders. I think we've done enough for Iraq already.

Now, doesn't that look better? Not only is punctuation important, but so is tense, as well as spelling and syntax structure. You should take a look at the grammar help threads at the top of the General forum.

And yes, it is costly in both monetary and live forms. However, it's likely not a good idea to leave. After all, despite the fact that the "liberals" warned against entering this war, the Americans did anyway, and because their actions resulted in massive amounts of collateral damage, they have to stay and clean up the house.