Whitaker, Biden have sons serving with U.S. military

[PatSeg]

<The war in Iraq didn't become personal to Rep. John Whitaker until his son Gabe was deployed with the Iowa National Guard. Then it became very personal.>

<"I think it makes a difference to have someone in a position of leadership in the White House that understands the personal sacrifice it is for the parents to send a child," he said. That's why he's put his support behind presidential hopeful U.S. Sen. Joe Biden.>

<"One of the big reasons that I'm supporting Joe Biden is his statements on how to get out of Iraq in a way that is safe for our troops," Whitaker said, explaining it's not as easy as just pulling them out. "Knowing what I know now about how we take them into that country, trying to take them out in mass would be dangerous.">

From the Fairfield Ledger, http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18813111&BRD=1142&PAG=461&dept_id=567522&rfi=6

[Lucinda]

1. Thanks for the link! n/t

[PatSeg]

3. You're welcome

Hopefully it won't take as long for America to wake up as it did with Vietnam. Maybe Boehner should have a loved one in Iraq and then tell us it is worth it!

[gateley]

2. Never thought I'd see the day,

but I've come around to that way of thinking, too -- that just swooping everyone out is unwise. Thanks for the link.

[PatSeg]

4. My initial reactions were just bring them home

or cut off the funding, but now I see how unwise that would be. We can't leave as recklessly and irresponsibly as we went in.

[MadMaddie]

5. The problem is as long as American troops remain they will be

the catalyst and the target of Iraqi's and Insurgents....Iraq as a country is destroyed..this Administration due to greed, no bid contracts, no auditing has ruined any opportunity we had to help rebuild Iraq.

This is not a military fix....this is a Regional Political Negotiation fix...stubborn * does not want to bring Iran and Syria to the table...and that is the only way it's going to happen....If the US stays 50 years and leaves....the region will hash it out how they want to...

We pulled our troops out of Vietnam...in the early 70's it's 2007 and Vietnam is a prosperous nation. 37 years....

I say...for the Iraqi's that remain and want to leave the country for their safety....America owes them the opportunity to relocate...it would far cheaper to bring them the US help them get situated then lose one more American life and spend 30 mill a week (or whatever the ghastly number is)

[gateley]

6. I think the plan to encourage each area govern themselves with a Federal Government

protecting the boarders, distribute money, etc., is the most logical I've heard thus far. I'm honestly not sure what our role would be there if that transpires, but I think a presence there until such a resolution would be the only fair thing to do.