Bush/Chenney in their arrogance have placed GEN Petraeus at the helm of CENTCOM, to handcuff the next President (whomever that might be), into staying in Iraq, as they feel he is fire proof. Petraeus is a soldier and should be thanked for his service, but he must be reminded that he along with all Military personnel are servants to the USA and its people, that's why its called the service.

A vote for Obama means you want the troops out of Iraq and a vote for MCcain means you think they should stay (according to him for at least the next 100 years), everyone understands that, if Obama is elected, the people have spoken, GEN Petraeus must follow his orders, like the good soldier he is and move out, the war was wrong, Bush lied and invaded, and now we occupy, the Iraqi Government wants us out (ASAP would be nice according to their PM)over 100 thousand innocent Iraqis have been murdered through collateral damage, the overwhelming majority at the hands of American Forces (the truth is the truth).

So nice try Bush, but we see the real reason you put the General in at CENTCOM, maybe we are not as dumb as you think we are-happy your days are numbered.

Didn't Bush learn anything in Sunday School or at the feet of his mother, doesn't he know anything that, "anything that starts with a lie is destined to fail"

We became our enemy wgen we lied and then invaded Iraq. America has fallen so far from ots greatness, since 9/11.

We must leave Iraq now, their Government wants us out.

We need to leave just as soon as we can (and that means all our troops), think of all the billions that could have spent right here in the USA- its just leaves you shaking your head, the only reason that this wee bit of troops are coming home-is its election time and Bush is trying to help his party from getting creamed by the Obama faithful. Just because you got a pretty girl standing on stage with you doesn't mean your going to win-it helps, but does not guarentee victory, she's hot I will give you that, in a weird Mary Ann on Gilligans Island way.

Katrina you are right on target, Bush will never see,what the rest of the world see's, and that is, we have lost so much moral goodness in this country and now we have to pick up our toys and go home.

You right nice try Bush, the General is a good man and a great leader, but enough is enough. We have done enough damage there, God forgive us.

Our troops are hero's, but the mission is just so wrong and all the innocent blood shed, and she's right over 100 thousand innocent women, children and men have been murdered by collateral damage.

At least 8000 will come home, we need to wake the hell up and keep the next President in check, who ever that may be.

The only reason troops are coming home is that its almost November, nobody I know in the 30 something crowd wants Iraq in our lives anymore, it was wrong that we invaded on false intel, produced by our government.

Loved the comment about Mary Ann on Gilligans Island (laughing my head off)and agree with anyone who says, we must get out of Iraq- call it a day Bush- things always go wrong when you lie at the start.

Silly Liberals Freedom is for Patriots who stand behind their country. So Stop with the Bush Lied comments. You have no facts to back it up.If appeasement and Socialism is your idea of democracy I'm sure France would welcome you.

Its so sad the Bush blew it in Iraq because there may be a day in the future in which it is in our interests to use military force preemptively and the American people will be very skeptical about whether we can pull it off. Bush has handicapped future Presidents who may have to deal with with a clear and present danger but can't build a politcal consensus to act.

Wow, your defeatism utterly disgusts me as a proud service member of our fine country.  Wether or not the war began as a lie or just bad intel across the board, its irrelevant in the war today.  To attempt to connect the two shows just how ignorant and blinded by your Bush-hatred you truly are.  You can hate Bush and be angry at the conception of the war, but you need to seperate those views with the current status of Iraq today.  I have served in that country, and patrolled on my own two feet daily in Iraq.  The people there are grateful, they want us to leave, but they don't want us to leave prematurely.  Iraqis understand that American troops have helped create security and safety in their country post-invasion as well as divert what would have been a religous genocidal civil war.  Things would be much worse without us there.  Why do you want to retreat when casualties have gone down monthly for the last year?  After five bloody years of war, we are finally seeing the fruits of our labor and sucess in our sacrifice.  Progress not only in defeating our enemies, but progress in building an infrastructure in Iraq.  Are you even aware that Iraq is producing more oil then it was pre-invasion?  That there are millions upon millions more phone lines in Iraq as well as internet connections vs pre-invasion?  Are you aware that there are hundreds of more Iraqi journalistic organizations today then pre-invasion?  Are you aware that Iraq is producing more electricity then it was pre-invasion?  Are you aware Iraq is one of the top countries in the middle east in its freedom index?  Economic and technological revolutions are in conception.  These people lived in the dark ages, a darker age, before our arrival.

Verbal agreements have already been made and our eventual withdrawl from Iraq appears agreed upon.  Do you read the news?  Have we not agreed in principle to withdraw from Iraq in 2011?  To have our Marines and soldiers off the streets of most major Iraqi cities by 2009?

The war is over, its only a matter of time at this point.  The Iraqi army which boast over 500,000 warriors are taking the reigns for the first time in years and securing their own territory.  Did you not listen to the news when the Iraqi Army spear-headed succesful operations in Mosul, Sadr City, Basra, and Amarah just a few months ago?  The people continue to grow confident in their democratic government and new elections early next year will only strengthen that as well as enhance the Sunni role.

Noone is going to argue that Iraq doesn't have a ton of problems and hurdles in the coming years, but when all is said and done, they will be a country that is controlled democraticaly, and they will never see a leader who would massacre via gas more then 100 thousand of his own people(kurds).  Why werent you up and arms then?  It was ok for Sadam to kill his own people, but now its just incomprehensible when Americans are involved in fighting?  You also speak as though Americans have killed 500,000 Iraqis which is just a blatant over exaggeration and lie.  Far more have died at the hands of sectarian violence/insurgent/terrorist activity then have by American mistake.  Your arguments also fail to even mention the amount of bad men and radical islamists that have died by the American hand.  You seem to completely ignore any progress or benifit to that.

In the end, you should thank Petraeus.  He will go down as one of the most famous and greatest American Generals ever.  His methods of conducting war in Iraq, have saved what appeared to be another Vietnam style defeat into a genuine possible American victory.  If you have any sense of duty to a situation we created, you would see that living it through is the right choice, as the latter consequences would be much worse.  Should we have been stuck with dealing with another Iranian controlled puppet satelite state like Syria?  Or possibly a terrorist state all together?  Its easy to predict the lack of American casualties by our presence being gone, but you fail to even factor the amount of death caused by civil war and religous sectarian violence, which we have already seen in 05-06.  Shall we retreat while becoming the proximate cause for a very possible unfathomable mass murder?  This should factor in your opinion, but you are "bush-blinded" in your hatred and you fail to see the "big picture".

The invasion was over long ago, and it matters little in the reality that is Iraq today.  Progress and victory are in sight. Bloody war and the invasion remain in "hindsight".  Timetables for withdrawl are placed down in principle.  The troops will come home, and Bush in his infinite wisdom made Petraeus in charge of the middle east so that he can break off some of that same wisdom and knowledge he used sucessfully in Iraq in our problems with Afghanistan.  There is no man more qualified.

I suggest you all read a little more on what actually happens in Iraq, and attempt to take an objective and unbiased approach to your opinions on the war, rather then subjectively educating yourself based of your loathing for our president.  Check out the Brookings Report which is a liberal institution that has an Iraq Index full of figures and reports by people who spend their entire lives evaluating every inch of Iraq.  After you soak in some objectivity to the subject, then open your mouth.

Until then,
The guy that was actually there.

Iraq is never going to be more than somewhat secure.  No country in the Middle East is more than somewhat secure.  Accept it and let's get out of there.  They want us out anyway.  Obviously, they agree with Obama more than they do McCain.

The story from Bush has always been that we will withdraw our troops from Iraq if the Iraq government asks us to do so. However lately they have been asking to set a definite date for the withdrawal and our response has been "Lets talk it over further until you realize that you don't really want what you're asking for". It almost sounds like a threat, doesn't it? So much for the independent and democratic government of Iraq.

If Obama is elected, he will not pull all the troops out of Iraq immediately as some of you misinformed people believe.  The war in Iraq is drawing to a close, but there will be a US presence there for some time. People that believe that Obama will immediately withdraw troop from Iraq are living in a fairy tale.  The president must do what is best for the country not what he thinks the people want.  In case you do know or understand this country is not a democracy but a republic.  The people have no direct say in how the country is run.  Which is a good thing, considering how people don't look at the facts themselves or research any issues, but believe the propaganda that their party spews.  Buy the way we still have troops stationed in Germany, Japan, and South Korea long after those wars were over.

BUSH LIES AND  THE WAR GOES ON  BRING OUR MEN HOME FOR GOD SAKES  PORUD OF OUR MEN BUT THE NEED REST  WE NEED  THE IS OVER  AND  THEM HOME BUSH   AM HAPPY  YOU  ARE OUT SOON  BE GONE  

jorge said exactly what I was about to say.  Iraq will never be a mainstream democracy.  The tribes and factions in that area of the world have been fighting each other since time began.  Lawrence of Arabia and the UK tried to unite this area but finally left and gave up.  Please gods save us from McCain and more of the same in our election. As for Petraus, I think Obama/Biden and the American people can take care of him.  Last, I knew, the military does not control the USA.

Nice piece of writing Jeff! These liberal lunes have really lost it. Their ignorance and stupidity is laughable.

The fact that this war was started for the wrong reasons is undeniable.  The fact that they tried to do it on the cheap insured that we would win the war and lose the peace.  It was tragic and Iraq paid a terrible price, but free people everywhere must pay price for freedom.  No matter what else has happened they are free from a tyrant.  They are on the verge of something truly great and they have paid a terrible price but they have paid it and  they deserve the chance to succeed.  To leave now would be more of an immoral thing than any thing else we could do.  The General is a hero and our troops are heros to abandon it now truly would be the most tragic chapter in america's history since Vietnam

Jeff Hauf - #1 THANKS for your service. #2 Thanks for your comment.  The only thing you said that I disagree with is "I suggest you read a little more..."  All the defeatists need to remove their blinders and read (i.e., educate) themselves ALOT more.

Thank you for serving Jeff. It is sad that Americans only believe what they see on tv or read in the newspaper or online, these media outlets have to generate income or they will disapear. I had a niece, a nephew and a very good friend that served and all three were appauled by the conditions that these people endured before we arrived. Perhaps we have it too good here and we will never understand the gift and commitment of our troops. Again thank you for serving, you have all made the world a better place for everyone. Those who hate President Bush need to go back to school and learn that this is not a dictatorship, and most who complain do not even vote.

George W. Bush will go down in history as a courageous president who did the right thing despite a tsunami of vicious personal attacks. A free and democratic Iraq in the heart of Osama's would-be caliphate will doom Al Qaeda and make the world a far safer place. Thank God for President Bush!

Of course, we can only "get out" now, in victory, because of McCain's insistence on the surge. Not Joe Biden's call for regional autonomy, not because Dems like Obama threatened troop withdrawls, not because of more raids by Special Forces teams... instead, because of General Petraeus's change in strategy which was implemented by the fine soldiers under him.

Admit that the surge worked and let go of your delusions. You can still hate Bush, but let go of your clinging to an illogical position.

Well said Jeff, As so one else that has actually walked the streets and driven the roads of Iraq, I couldn't say it better myself. I am disgusted by all the irresponsible comments and thoughts from the people who hate Bush so much that they are blinded to our responsibilities and also the facts about Iraq.

I find it so hard to understand their hatred when we as the ones who have actually suffered and paid for Bush's "mistakes" don't hate him and wish to see failure in Iraq as much as they do.

 I honestly believe that they think that if Iraq goes down the tubes that it will only be a Bush failure and not a failure of the US. The arrogance and vitriol that they shout out is so damning.

Do they expect a fully function democracy in Iraq within 5 years when it has taken us over 200 years to just get where we are?

I as a US soldier I am so proud of General Patraeus and thankful for his leadership. He is my hero, not some football player or movie star. He has saved so many service members lives and has made our sacrifice begin to pay off.

As for the detractors please go do something constructive with your lives and learn that the following aren't just words to us.

I am an American Soldier.
I am a Warrior and a member of a team. I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army Values.
I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.
I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.
I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.
I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.
I am an American Soldier.

To: "Silly Liberals Freedom is for Patriots who stand behind their country."

Do true patriots listen to their president lie and get away with it?  Want some facts?  Look at the links below.  I know, I know, you'll call these liberal web sites. Here's a lesson for everybody.  If something is documented it is neither liberal nor conservative.  It is a FACT.  Facts cannot lie, but presidents can.
http://www.bushlies.net/

http://www.bushwatch.com/bushlies.htm

I think the look of this war is all one sided with the bushies. First our military was not readt for a War. And the americans who beleive in this war went there over, over and over again they recalled military who had did done there jobs. and because there was no draft most all young didn't here the call and a lott of the where republicans.I am a disable Vet I did my jobs and when twice but these poor guys had no choice, I may also add this administration has continuly down sized bases personal and still doing so where is our military going to do. They do it by down sizing the artisans
This is game is was and going to be a a very bad awaking.  

I wonder sometimes if the Iraqui people want us out because of the hate and anger they see from us, the American people, through news media and other sources of communication.  
Every person on this great world we've been given should have the opportunity to be in a democracy.  I realize the sacrifices our troops have made in providing the Iraquis their freedom.  Their, and their families sacrifice has been great.  
I am tired of hearing the news media spew their biased reports.  I think there is more to the story than they give to us.  Do you ever notice that there is not one positive thing they report about Iraq?  I find that interesting considering I get emails from, or speak occassionally to service men and women and they tell me that conditions are so much better than what is reported.
Our society has become one of negativism.  Do you people not remember how evil Sadam Husain was?  How can you forget?  I for one am glad he is gone.
I am happy for the Iraqui people that we have given them the gift of democracy.  May God bless them, and I pray that he might forgive and bless us in spite of ourselves.

This is to Jeff Hauf, Milwaukee, WI 1st and foremost Jeff thank you for your brave and patriotic service over in Iraq. And now let's set some things straight and this comes from a former Army vet. The war was WRONG WRONG & WRONG. You guys who took the oath to defend against enemies foreign and domestic became pawns in a chest game. By a man who LIED and played on 9/11 fears to get you guys over there.

Most of the vets I spoke to returning from Iraq said what most of the commentators on have said this was was a LIE. One Marine expressed a desire to "murder Bush" for sending them over there for as he put it "Gasoline and Oil" Why is Osama Bin Laden still on the loose???? whatever happen to capturing him???

So myself a vet, and alot of Americans want our HERO'S back home and we are fighting to maker sure you guys get decent health care, and all the benefits you deserve and not the crappy Walter Reed kind of health care you've been getting as a former soldier my heart go's out to the 7 thousand lives that were lost needlessly. And the emotional scars our hero's will have when they return home. So like it or not my military brother we will fight, protest, fight some more until you all return home. GOD Bless.

this admission to you may surprise and even shock the majority of you, but I dont care..I am an anarchist, but I was also a soldier that faught in Iraq and afghanistan..and like the fellow soldier from Wisconsin I do believe that we as soldiers are gaining a strong foothold in Iraq, not to further "the use of religious fundamentalism wrapped in the american democratic philosophy", but so the Iraqis can govern themselves with the confidence and the safety they did NOT have under Saddam Hussein.  I served with honor in Iraq with my boots on the ground out there and I have also seen my share of events in which we have made a significant change in the lives of the ordinary iraqis by providing them with food, water electricity and a heightened and clear sense of safety.  I am not one for an intrusive government, but we are no where near the "1984" state of mind in which the liberal media has portrayed the Bush administration-- though it does appear that this country could lean that way if we are not careful....there for I urge those of us out there to wake up and make a difference when we vote..

I'm A korean Veteran and I say---Jeff Haulf from Milwaukee,Wi. SAID IT ALL

What is left to win in Iraq?  We invaded their country, destroyed their intrastructure, overthrew their government, got a new one elected with our help that now wants us to set up an exit strategy, as Rush Limbaugh used to say, so what's left to win?  That is unless we want their oil money, too.  

I agree with Jeff, America listen carefully this I will tell you now from a person who thinks we need change in America, and a person who may well vote for Obama, I too was in Iraq working for the dept of Defense in 05,06,and returned home in 07, I worked closely with the people of Iraq and some of their leaders, almost all of these people are grateful for what we have done for them their families and their country, I sat many times with them Groups of 10, 15, 20 of them at a time almost every other day after our mission was completed and was told by them how they had to survive when leaving our compound just to get home safely after a long day of work for our troops, they were followed  many times, killed, terrorized and
threatened as well as their family members by AL-Qaeda if they returned to work for the us military but were there the next day those who would make it back alive, their leaders frantically explained why we could not leave time and time again, you have to be there look in their eyes and see the terrible pain they were suffering, most had no money to eat and feed all their families, yes mothers, brothers, sisters, small children and babies, how in the world can anybody with any true feelings would turn their backs on them knowing their fate would be sealed the minute we left and all would be killed in the religous civil war that was looming over them, they had tears in their eyes and begged for us not to leave every time news would come from the states wanting all our troops home, this is not the America I know our colors don't run and we can never turn our backs on any human being, city or country that need us.

While Bush made many mistakes from the beginning weather from bad Intel or his own personal war like many claimed, "He wanted to finish what his dad started with Sadam Husein" or having his way with the oil in this country and used 911 as his excuse to invade, lets not forget the genocidal tactics Sadam used against his own people which killed thousands of innocent men, woman and children mostly kurds for his own personal gains.

Iraq is a country like any other with families that just want to raise their children in a safe environment, teach them democracy and have the opportunity to change their country with a right that we all share in America, The Right to Vote.

We have given the Iraqi people the single most important  gift they will cherish for the rest of their life, a gift we as Americans take for granted every day, "The Gift of Freedom".

America lets never forget who we are and what we stand for, we are all Gods children, not just americans but the world.

I advise and work with Iraqis on a regular basis, right now.  They are just beginning to see hope for their country.  As Jeff said, they want us to leave, but not right away.  They want and need (and ask for) our help.  There are a lot of areas, especially in technical matters, both military and civilian, that US (and Brit and Aussie and Polish, etc.) advisors are critical to keeping the government of Iraq operational and getting it on its own feet.  That's a fact, even if it's something people don't talk about much.

Whatever the cause of the invasion, whatever we've done the past, a withdrawl that is anything less than carefully thought out, with Iraqis full prepared to take over, is grossly immoral and will cause huge numbers of unnecessary Iraqi deaths.

This country may never be 100% secure, but it can be and will be better than it is with more time and work.  I see the light at the end of the tunnel.  But we're not there yet.

You want FREEDOM to speak???... I said it first... On the attack on America we should had turned the middle east into a sheet of glass..Especially suadia arabia. that is where to attackers came from. not iraq, not iran until now. guess were the biggest US air base in the world is, yep, Iraq. We have a plan and need to stick to it, unless you want revelation 22 Wake up America.

Re jorge: "Obviously they agree with Obama more than they do McCain."
You think everyone who's not happy with foreigners calling the shots in their country must be a terrorist?  The US-appointed Iraqi government wants the Americans to start making moves to leave.  Does that make them terrorists.  That's the trouble with inviting Americans or Russians in to "defend" your country - they won't leave when you ask them nicely to.
Marnie Tunay

wtg jeff in wisconsin. I wish farve was back but the pack looks good and so do you.. thanx for your work. Well Done my freind

Now, can Bill O'reilly say the french were right??
How come it was not told to the american public that french soldiers in Afghanistan waited for a month at the entrance of a valley and when Bin Laden showed up, the american command said: Don't shoot! In fact I was told by French general Patric Dutartre that the french could have killed him twice and were ordered by americans not to shoot... Why??

To all those Bush-bashers who wish to flee Iraq.

Wow.

That is outstanding, truly outstanding. What a fantastic way to show your support to the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who have fought in that country.

I am terribly sorry that the war in Iraq is an eyesore that you would rather just "go away". Unfortunately, some things do not "go away". There is evil in this world that does not care if we pull out of Iraq, it will come find us. You would realize that if you spoke to a servicemember who has seen some of the horrors of this war. People who can deliberately attack innocent women and children, who can strap bombs to the mentally ill, these people are evil in a way that you cannot imagine. Soldiers like myself chose to join the military and fight those people. It is really quite simple: You can fight them in Iraq or you can fight them in the streets and cities of America. The one thing you can be sure of is that you will fight them somewhere. They will make sure of that.

I suggest each of you "bring the troops home now" types keep your Bush-bashing comments seperate from your comments about the servicemembers in Iraq. Please support us and help us to finish the job that was started. Whether it was started due to faulty intelligence is not important now. What is important now is that we owe it to the Iraqi people to leave them with a secure government and a country where their children can grow up in safety.

Twenty years from now, when I visit the graves of the friends and Soldiers that I have lost, I want to be able to tell my grandchildren that they died for something, that 19 million people are now free because of their sacrifices. If we pull out unilaterally, Iraq will degenerate into a civil war, and all of their sacrifices will have been in vain. We owe it to our fallen brothers and sisters to finish the job that we started.

To anyone who wants to pull out now: If the D-Day invasion had failed in 1944, would you have screamed as loudly as you are now that the war was a lost cause? Would you have demanded that the Roosevelt administration "pull out"? Would you have said "Europe and the Nazis will get better if we just stay out of the way"? The answer, of course, is "no".

If you are opposed to the war in Iraq, fine, that is your right. By all means vote for Barack Obama, that is also your right. If you want to speak out against the war, again that is your right. But before you start talking about "pulling out", think for a second, who gave you those rights? The U.S. military did. While we are fighting, give us your support, that is all I ask.

Sincerely,

Another guy who is actually there.

It's obvious the guy has actually been there, so brainwashed also. Is it doing something worse the way to fix things when you do something bad, if so, I feel sorry already for what used to be a model of a country.
Irrelevant that a country is invaded on the basis of LIES? Lies,not "bad intel". Lies as in not telling the true with the intention to deceive. Sure, to bad you are not still there so you could tell that to anyone there who has lost someone BECAUSE of the invasion, regardless of who actually made the killing. You fail to see that sectarian violence,insurgency and even terrorism in Iraq is a by-product of the invasion. Oh, but you are back home, well then go tell the families of your fallen brothers in arms that now is irrelevant that they had died there for a bunch of lies because the current situation there is so much better. People in Iraq before the invasion had to worry about Sadam the dictator, and dictators repress and kill their own people, but peoples throughout History have always found ways to get rid of them sooner or later, that is unless they have the support of a super-power, yes USA supported Sadam until it decided it was not going to anymore, for whatever the reason, for now we know the WMD story was just that, a story. The gas he used on the Kurds, a left-over of the Iraq-Iran war and originally intended for the Iranians had MADE IN USA stickers on the containers, maybe that was the reason: He did not use it (or not all of it)on who the US wanted. So instead of letting and helping the Iraq people (people, like in folks, not the Chalabi types) take on the once USA-backed dictator, THEIR coutry was invaded, destroyed to be rebuilt (why destroy in the first place)and the only true winner in this, up to now is Iran, not exactly a USA friend.
So yes, go and tell the families of these 4000+ heroes that they died there for a ton of lies and for the benefit of Iran. Once someone told me that most war stories were mostly lies, and that most of the military persons enjoyed or did not care being lied to. Fortunately, the people really care about their government lying to them, and yes, people have always found ways to deal with governments that lie.  

Thank you Jeff for your insightful perspective on an unpopular war.  At a time when real victory can be seen in the horizon, the Bush-haters just want to get out, claim "victory" because they beat Bush, but leave the Iraqis in defeat.  Leaving now would not result in anything good, even for America.  Thank you Jeff for serving our country and putting yourself in harms way to protect not only us, but the Iraqi people as well.  May God bless you!!

Excellent comment Jeff.  Too many people in the U.S. are stuck in the past because the Democratic party wants them there.  The reality of the situation is that Bush made the decision to invade (wrong choice in my view), but since he is the Commander-In-Chief we live with the decision and try to improve the situation for Iraqi freedom.  The push before the surge was to withdraw from Iraq and feed them to the wolves.  Any responsible adult should have realized then, as now, that that is not in the free world's best interest.  The cold hard fact is that western civilization is in the fight for its very existence.  Many think that statement is ridiculous, but regrettably, too many Americans are ignorant of the world outside the U.S. borders.  They sit in their living rooms watching the news, believing what the morally corrupt media feeds them.  They have papers and ad time to sell.  Doom-and-gloom and controversy fits into their commercial and political agendas.

To give into the defeatist emotions that have been preached over the past few years would have vaulted the extremists to heights that would legitimize their cause.  Now it looks like we have something to build on.  Will freedom in Iraq take hold?  Nobody can say.  At least now there is a glimmer of hope.

Thank God the combat troops will be withdrawn at a reasonable pace.  I'm sure that pace will not be fast enough for the units that leave last.  As it was when I was waiting for my orders to depart, I'm sure there's a soldier waiting for his seat on the flight home.  Now it's time to re-focus on Afghanistan.

Too Cody in Clarksville, yes I was there too, the people where grateful as long as we kept giving them free stuff!!, how would you feel if someone invaded the USA today (on false Intel) and killed countless innocent civilians and then occupied our homeland, and on a daily basis tried to tell us how to live- you need to wise up- it does matter how things start,the end never justifys the means and just because you don't agree with the mission, doesn't mean you don't support the troops, so stop trying to use peoples affection for the troops against them- I fight everyday so people have the right to say what they think- square yourself away man-from a guy whose still there.

    While  agree with Jeff Hauf about the "progress" in Iraq that he cites, it does not contitute "victory."  
    "Victory" - in sense meant by the Bush Administration and the supporters of the  war - would mean Iraq becoming 1.) A "liberal democracy" (like, say Israel), 2.) a "staunch ally" of the United States, and 3.) A "friend" to Isrel.  It is not likely to become any of these things in the forseeable future.  (Even General Petreus describe the current relative peace in Iraq as "fragile."

    "Victory" - in purely military terms - would also mean crushing the Sunni insurgency (with all the insurgents killed, captured, or just dropping their guns and giving up the fight) and cowing the anti-American Shia militias (like Mouktada al Sadr and his "Madi Army")  This is not likely to happen anytime soon  either.  About 100,00 Sunni gunmen (many of them former insurgents)are on the American payroll as part of the "Awakening Councils" movement, while the anti-American Shia militias are "standing down" for the time being.

    America has a "moral responsibility" to leave Iraq in the best possible state as American forces depart.  If that comes to pass American forces can be said to have achived "success" in Iraq (cleaning up the horrific mess created by the Bush Administration -and those politicians in both parties who supported the war).   But it cannot be properly called "victory".

In reply to George in Lakeland, having just returned form Iraq (last week) I can tell you that people are looking very forward to our troops leaving, things are better security wise, but still dangerous, I can see why you take your view, you were a contractor siiting in a FOB (with the A/C on high), making big bucks off this invasion, I on the other hand was out driving and pounding ground with my boys in Sadr City- things are bit different on those streets- those folks hate us- and I agree with them- because I would feel the same way if the tables were turned.

  I completely agree with the only one here that had anything intelligent to say about this war(Jeff Hauf), why?... Because he has been there like i have, and until you have seen what exactly is going on first hand then you don't have any right to start calling out our leadership, i spent my last three years patrolling the streets of Al Anbar Provence, and the progressions that we have made over the last three years alone are noteworthy. I have lost many friends and to call this war a mistake is only a slap in the face to this patriot!
 So the next time you want to form an opinion on why or why we should not be in Iraq please read up on exactly what is going on, the information is out there all you have to do is open your eyes and look around.

By the way, Your Welcome! All of these servicemen thank you for your support!!!!!!

 

In reply to Jeff in Wisconsin-500 Thousand warriors! I helped train a bunch of them I would not call them warriors. I and my Battalion had to clean up the mess in Basra after the Brits left it to your mighty Warriors- and to this day we are still trying to run down about 50 up armour humvees they left behind when they deserted their post, so warriors is kind of stretching it- and yes they have all these great services and a improved infra-structure, at what cost?, billlions and billions and billions of dollars, that we need here at home (in a bad way)- so please man, give me a break, because we are not feeling it- I hate to admit it, but Obama is right-get out now- glad he will be the next President, plus they don't even want us there anymore

T Phillips- stop trying to use your service as a weapon aginst those who disagree with the war. I'm still here dude!! I'm a Soldier and cannot agree more with these comments against the war-please just stop it man- you disgrace your uniform, when you say people son't have the right to free speech. The people will speak in November, if they vote Obama in the troops are coming back home, dude I'm on 3rd deployment (this is stupid)-these people don't appreciate what we do, all they do care about is what we can give them.

Jeff, thank you!  So eloquently put.  The left armchair wingers out there seem to ignore the reports of progress because they are SO blinded by their hatred towards 'Bush' (they still haven't gotten over the 2000 election) that no matter what he (or, excuse me...'The Bush Administration') does, it's wrong/stupid/idiotic (supply the usual)...according to them.  I would bet dollars to doughnuts that if he had pulled all our troops out three years ago when all the dems were wining about it and things had fallen apart over there, they would have blamed Pres. Bush for pulling out too quickly.  No matter what position he takes, they take the opposite because they can't come up with anything better.  Look at the VERY BIG picture with regard to strategy.  You may think Iraq was a mistake now, and yes, it's damned expensive, but you have to be patient.  We were all told at the outset, this war may take a very long time--years.  Weren't you listening? NO? (Oh, yeah--that's right, I know, you hate Bush). The radical Islamists have had decades to strategize and they teach patience as part of their doctrine.  They believe that our so-called short attention span, foolish demoralizing of our troops and constant whining about the war will bring us down.  Along with our economy, I might add.  We all need to pay closer attention to what is going on with our money besides the war.  Like in Congress, for instance.  Where are the media/TV networks when these 500 page bills are drawn up that fool with our money and our constitution?  Huh?  I want to know exactly what is in those bills in laymens terms, not the language of trial lawyers, no matter what it takes to explain them with arguments pro and con from all parties.  If it takes alot of air time or print space, so what.  Yes, there's plenty on our home front to occupy our attention but dont EVER under-estimate the enemy and don't prove them right.      

To the Maj at Ft Myers- well said, I have done two tours of duty in Iraq and constanly remind my soldiers, that you must put yourself in there shoes,how would we react to invasion? Time to get out, we are bad bad gueast, they have asked us too leave-so lets go!!

Jeff, you and others ask the good people of this nation- to just discount and forget the fact that false Intel was provided to justify our bloody invasion of Iraq, where so many innocent souls where slaughtered, so many were wrongly murdered it made Saddam look like Mother Theresa-Saddam is attributed to have killed about 7000 thousand of his enemies (there were many innocent killed at his hands also), but Jeff our troops have killed murdered over One Hundred Thousand Civilians (after 100 thousand the Green Zone stop publishing numbers). I'm sad to vote against the war (Bush) as I have been a Republican all my life (and it hurts as a 2-time Iraq Vet). Its just so over. You will see the people will speak in November-it will be a landslide for Obama and his exit stragedy.

Please you Warmongers stop with the continue the war at any cost-who cares if we lied to get the ball rolling-it was wrong to invade- its wrong to occupy someone else's country- I feel like I'm writting to a group of Nazi Kindergarteners, what the heck is wrong with our country? We really have become our enemy, Okay class after we get done shinning our Jack Boots we are going have nap time. Unbelievable!!

The beginning.  Not so unlike the early 1960's and that Sec. Defense McNamara and the 2003 Rumsfeld.  Both very academically intelligent.  Not so warrior smart but seemed to be a 'commander in chief' participant. Gen. Petraeus is the right man at the right time. College-experience etc is not an earned skill. It is a gift. Europe is not capable of fixing any significant problem.  The mid East is 1000 times over their head.  If Mid East oil were to become a blackmail tool of a WarLord dictator, who would be the only Nation that would have the skill to fix it???  England?  Germany?  France?  World War 2 became the bloodiest war of all wars.  Why?  Non warrior mentalities controlled what fixes were then available. Long term stability is far away.Just as the concept of Democracy is foreign to the Mid East. Saddam was killing as many people as in the 1995 Balkans.

The President is required to fix problems.  Not to be concerned with Legacy.

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