Good going Coalition and Iraqi's.

And progress moves one step further ahead......

Possibly one of the smartest moves on the part of the administration. I just hope that the new Leadership is able to prove to the Iraqi people that they actually have "full sovereignty"!! Any skeptic at this time is justified because we still have almost 140,000 troops there. Will we leave if asked to do so 3 months from now?

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"Only a fool tests the depth of the water with both feet."

There is nothing wrong with being a skeptic...but a skeptic of what? If one's idea of being a skeptic is buying into crazy conspiracy laden innuendo based theories about US really intending to grab Iraq as a colony, suck it free of oil and leave it there with the straw then one isn't a skeptic but rather the opposite thereof. The fact of our handing over sovereignty, when that clearly may not even be the best thing for the Iraqis but certainly is the thing that most of them want - as well as what most of the rest of the world wants - shows our good faith.

Are you a skeptic about the Detroit Pistons?

I agree that the hand over of power is a symbolic step. Elections are said to be held in January. Will those of you who are skeptical now be skeptics then? What will it take to win your confidence?

(Beware the last question i asked is loaded)

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"Democracy is a process by which the people are free to choose the man who will get the blame."

-Laurence J. Peter

The skepticism I am referring to is the one that the majority of Iraqis at this time are viewing this transfer. You do realize that most of the leaders of this new government are exiles, never lived in Iraq under Saddam and experienced what a majority of the Shiites and Kurds and even those Sunnis with a conscience experienced. For all intents and purposes, this government was appointed, not elected. So it will be viewed with skepticism until it proves itself.

I believe they can do it. And this is our only chance to restore dignity to this land that has been occupied for over a year. I am sure once they start making decisions that are independent of the US, they will be viewed as credible and the terrorists will not be able to advance their agenda because the Iraqi people will turn against them.

Even the skeptics cannot argue especially if we start bringing our troops home. Plus the argument of the US colonizing Iraq is a dumb one. Anyone who has raised that is an idiot. If we wanted to establish a colony, IRAQ will be the last place to do it.

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"Only a fool tests the depth of the water with both feet."

Seems that some posters on here hope democracy fails in Iraq and see the United States as the enemy. The United States is not perfect, but we have over the years given alot for the freedom of other countries. The difference now is that an entire wing of the Democratic Party sees nothing but evil in everything we do. That is not the Democratic Party of FDR or JFK.

The fact is the job is not finished, but we have made tremedous progress. It took much longer to get Germany and Japan to democracy after WWII. Anyone can plainly see this, but many are blinded by their irrational hatred of George Bush. If Kerry gets ellected and follows the same policies in Iraq (which he basically says he will), I predict most of these people will change there tune to support.

I hope we succeed in Iraq. Because if we do, that will force the entire Arab world to look within themselves and realize that the lunatic fringe must go. You make a good point about Kerry following the same policies. Why? Because he has no choice. But do you think most Republicans will give him that chance? He is not a perfect man, not by a long shot and has certainly made some bone-headed decisions.

But why have so much hatred for him? And I am equally disgusted with the Democrats who have the same hatred for Bush? You may disagree with the man's policies but do not call him a killer. And in Kerry's case, you may disagree with his policies but do not make light of his military service or any of his medals (especially if you chose to have multiple deferrments).

This war on terror is one of ideas and it will take REPUBLICANS and DEMOCRATS alike to defeat it.

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"Only a fool tests the depth of the water with both feet."

Iraq was not about giving the people of Iraq democracy--that reason came after the administration realized it went to war on faulty intelligence and made an ass of itself. The "oh lets help out the poor Iraqis from evil Saddam" is simply a way for the American people to feel better about the war and bail the administration out.

If you follow politics, you’ll notice the best way to rally the American people is to use the words “freedom” or “democracy.” McKinley used the same logic about the Philippines: Let’s make civilized Christians out of the savages! Oh, and I’m sure the islands weren’t about a strategic location near China so we could enforce the Open Door Notes, Mr. President.

Tell me, if we're suddenly about bringing democracy to down-trodden people, simply out of the goodness of our heart, are you willing to foot the bill to remove and rebuild the dozens of other countries living in poverty under corrupt regimes?

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Proudly a "South Park Republican"

I stated once on this forum that my argument with this administration is the way the period after the war has been run. Too late to discuss whether or not it was neccessary to go into Iraq. Its water under the bridge.

We are there now and therefore we must do whatever is neccessary to leave "gracefully". Gian, there is no easy solution. But we simply cannot order 140,000 troops to come home now. Iran will be jumping for joy because they will certainly move in. The Kurds in the north will immediately cede and declare independency and this will (*)(*)(*)(*) Turkey off. You will be looking at a Middle Eastern conflict that will be very very bloody. Guess what happens? NO OIL for the West!! And that means our economies grind to a screeching halt. And if the Western World economies start to fold, Communist China then prevails.

This is not a pretty picture..

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"Only a fool tests the depth of the water with both feet."