Originally Posted by catawba

I'm sure McCain didn't mean 100 years necessarily. The truth be told he probably meant for 100 years or until their oil runs out, whichever comes first! LOL!

This McCain quote is even more telling - "My friends, I will have an energy policy that we will be talking about, which will eliminate our dependence on oil from the Middle East that will — that will then prevent us — that will prevent us from having ever to send our young men and women into conflict again in the Middle East."

Originally Posted by Spare

It's an interesting question. You would think that Maliki is very interested in how our election goes. But, assuming he doesn't want Obama, his request would seem to undermine McCain. But, I guess his first concern is staying in office himself -- LOL.

The timing, however, is more coincidental than anything. The Status Of Forces Agreement was up for negotiation, because the UN resolution is due to expire at the end of the year.

Originally Posted by katiegrrl0

I would think that a timetable for withdrawal would help McCain more. It would go toward taking the wind out of Obama's sails about ending the war.

Originally Posted by Spare

He'd be lying ---- you can't set a concrete timetable. You can set a plan .. you can have a goal ... but you can't have anything in concrete. Life just doesn't work like that.

Obama's 16 months is an election year wonder that is unsustainable. He knows it -- that's why he's already started to hedge his bets.

Originally Posted by katiegrrl0

I don't see an easy out. There is a mess over there. i want us out now. I am also rational enough to realize that this can't, won't and shouldn't happen. We just can't walk out saying sorry we left the place a mess. ta ta for now.

Originally Posted by Spare

Thank you. What's important now is "what is" not "what was" .... save the "how we got here" tears for the historians. It's time to move forward.

Originally Posted by katiegrrl0

We are in a fix and yes how it happened does not make a difference now. There are a lot of people over there hurting. We as a country whether we support the war or not can't abandon them.

If we leave in the wrong way we set up total failure in the country and a possible war with whoever takes over.

Get out being smarter and more cautious then we got in.

Originally Posted by superbadbrutha

US President George W. Bush long has vowed that the United States would leave Iraq if asked by Baghdad's leadership, but now that the request has been made, Bush is in no hurry to exit.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080713...militaryunrest

What is the real motivation behind this?


E.Pluribus Unum

Originally Posted by Spare

By jove --- I think you got it !!

Originally Posted by Spare

At least you're consistent ... don't EVER let facts get in your way. We love the pure nonsense.