Do you think we'll be in Iraq for decades?

[Bullet1987]

Ok, so I'm watching the Tweety show right...and they had this bearded guy on there spewing the usual neocon rhetoric about Iraq only being a stepping stone to a larger, global war (might as well have called it endless). And I began to wonder, which of our candidates do you think would give in to the neocon philosophy of an endless occupation of Iraq? I definently don't think we're going anywhere if a Rethugs wins...but what about a Dem? With recent revelations of the Imperial Fortress...I mean, the new US Embassy being built that's the size of 80 football fields...how likely is it that a Dem would stand up to the neocon philosophy? I know John Edwards would, which is seen in his stance on the term "War on Terror" but would Clinton or Obama? Both of whom have said they wouldn't take ALL of the troops out.

[pretty_lies]

1. We'll Try It

You're absolutely right that no Democrat or republican president will end the war voluntarily.

But the fact is that occupations in the face of concerted national resistance are difficult, painful and expensive.

Iraq is not South Korea.

And the strategic opportunity cost, in terms of flexibility to counter the rise of a constellation of regional powers, like China and South American nations, is high.

I expect the war to end in about 10 years, after the political elite have realized, like Nixon, that there is no military solution.

Looking for a bright side? The collapse of US empire might be it.

Of course, there's no guarantee it won't be replaced by something worse.

[CK_John]

2. Yes, we will there for a least 40 yrs or until the oil run out. n/t

[kimmerspixelated]

3. Interesting question.

I try not to let myself think that it is endless, and frankly I don't see how we can pay for it to be endless, as the dollar could fall further any second... But then we never thought we would have such a horrible period in American history(Thanks Chimp!) either! ...But Hillary in my opinion, is really a rethug in disguise. I don't trust her to do the right thing for Iraq.Obama-don't know. I take Edwards above those two, but in my heart I know Kucinich is the best policy person-that is, if I can't have Gore.

[liberal N proud]

4. We will be there until the death toll reaches such a staggering number that

the people of the US will finally say enough and vote out the bastards who keep supporting them.

[Jed Dilligan]

5. Right now,

it looks like we might have to pull out to avoid a confrontation with Turkey.

[Esra Star]

6. Yes, decades++. The duly constituted puppet government

will grant 99 year leases on all bases. The rent will be one dollar.
Just like with Guantanamo and others.

[The Magistrate]

7. No, Sir, We Will Not

Withdrawl of combat elements will commence in the spring of 2009, following the election of either Sen. Clinton or Sen. Obama as President. Some training and security elements will remain probably until 2011, though their departure will be clearly underway in the summer of 2010. Major combat elements will remain based in Kuwait and one or two of the other Gulf emirates, and possibly in smaller numbers in Jordan.

[CGowen]

8. War will not end "in our lifetime" says Cheney.

There are lot of countries to be regime changed

?pic

[Mark 2000]

9. Not too long

Lets face it. The Republican candidates are a mess. Dems in the white house mean a pull out most likely before 2012. The war is SO unpopular no admin will be able to survive without promising a pullout. Its the will of the people, man.

[pretty_lies]

11. Really? The Will Of The People?

Like the 2006 elections?

[TheWatcher]

14. The WIll Of The People has not mattered in this country for quite a long time now.

Why would it start mattering now?

It would seem to me both sides care about the Will Of The People much like Tony Soprano cares about Global Warming.

The False Left-Right Paradigm never ceases to fascinate me.

[Rydz777]

10. It doesn't get the attention it deserves, but from time to time we

get strong indications from military authorities that our ground forces (both Army and Marines) are near a breaking point, personnel physically worn down and equipment worn out. And we are "paying" for this disaster "off budget," on credit, with money we are borrowing from China and other countries that are running surpluses.

At some point reality has to be looked in the eye. We can no longer afford, either financially or militarily, to play the game of Imperial Rome. And even if our politicians are reluctant to notice the fact,the American people are fed up with the game.

[SoonerPride]

12. 17 years and counting

I count our troop activity and engagement with Iraq as non-stop from 1990 to now.

From GWI we didn't lose too many lives (382)and then we maintined a no-fly clamp down boxing in Saddam for the next 12 years. Still a great deal of military muscle and national treasure went into policing Iraq.

Then we ramped up the third act of this debacle, Gulf War II.

US deaths near 3,500. And the expense is in the trillions.

Yeah, even if we pull out of the cities and diminish our troop presence (and deaths), we'll have guys and gals on bases inside Iraq for the next 50 years.

Anyone who thinks otherwise is fooling themselves.

[TheWatcher]

13. It will be interesting to see which collapses first.

Our country or our occupation of Iraq.

[cleveramerican]

15. like the rabbit in the Briar patch

we will give lip service to getting out but until an exit avenue appears.... we'll be stuck there, As meddling observers until the end of time, or the iraqi's do what the Czechs did to the soviets, general strike,citizens in the streets demanding our departure immediately.