Our military basically bit off much more than they could chew. We can fight conventional wars better than anyone, but we can't make people like us. This result was predictable to anyone who understands the Middle East or insurgency doctrine, but we did it anyway. As a result of our hubris, the region is going to get a lot worse. I support leaving Iraq because I think it's a choice between leaving and having things get worse, vs. staying and making things even worse than that. In other words, there is no way we can salvage the situation; it's just a question of how much worse it will get. Hopefully we will elect leaders who are smart enough to ask these questions before charging around and getting stuck in future fiascos. (Iran, anyone?) Lessons can be learned all around; Israeli politicians would do well to study our failure (and their own failures) very closely to draw lessons for the future.

So far the war in Iraq was very good for America. The economy was never so good. No unemployment. No terror. Most people own houses and buying property like crazy. One big problem are mistakes by the comander of US forces in Iraq general Abu-Zade who is a Muslem. Nobody can say a bad word about him but the guy MUST be removed at once. Iraq is in good shape, only 30-50 people killed daily but it may change to 500 Iraqis a day if Abu-Zade is not removed at once.

WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS A SEER,CRYSTAL BALL GAZER,ABLE TO PREDICT THE FUTURE NOT ONLY OF ISRAEL BUT THE U.S. ANOTHER "CUT AND RUN" BEND OVER GRAB YOUR ANKLES WORD WARRIOR SPEWING HIS NEGATIVISM.THE LIBERAL LEFT NEVER FOCUSES ON VICTORY IT'S ALWAYS APPEASEMENT AND DEFEAT.

I have seen the coming of a 'greater' iran almost since the day the US went into Iraq. The threat to Israel has never been greater thanks to Bushe's blunder in Iraq. The Bush admin. sits on its throne dictating policy to Isreal that only puts Israel in ever increasing danger while Bush and his croanies fill their pockets with ever increasing war profits. When are people going to wake up.

I believe the Iraqi government is to soft and perhaps impotent. The government of Iraq needs to get more aggresive and quit depending on the USA to get things done for them. I believe a police state may be necessary to regain stability and control over the violence and to allow for US troop withdrawl. The US is waiting for the Iraqi government to step up and lead at the cost of lives and the American people, perhaps the leadership currently in Government there is incapable of doing that. Maybe some changes need to take place with the government. Democracy can be realed out more slowly with time as security is re-established by a self sufficient Iraq government.

It is very sad when hate blind your reasoning , i know you do not have any love 4 muslems , but at least if you want make Talk back about Middle east at least learn and read the situation of middle east , as you claim General Abaziad is not muslem , it is true his family came from lebonan and he is Arab orgin but he is christain who born America , then my follow do gooder why r u against Genaral Abazaid , cause he is Arab or do u think aal Arabs are Muslems , Arabs r not even 10 % of Muslim people aruond the world . this talk back is to educate David of Chicago.

It is true the USA wants out of Iraq and we can not stand Bush and his posse of lunatics and incompetents. We have lost some of USA s BEST young people fighting this war- and have done untold damage to Iraq and its innocent civliians- Who knows how many orphans we have created- emotionally and physically scarred for the rest of their life. I grieve for both the US and the Iraqis- But that said- with regards to Israel- it was NEVER the USA's responsibilty to be Israelis caretaker- we did this out of relgious alliance (zionist christians and jews) the Israeli lobby influence , the suppossed idea that Israel is a democracy (lol,I think that idea is HIGHLY debatable) and OIL. But face it- times have changed- the USA cannot AFFORD this war- on all levels- and after the world watched Israel bomb Beirut- to smithereens-killing thosuands of children and innocents the world opinion changed- Israel is not respected anymore . and the USA cannot change a "consiousness" in Iraq in a few years- Their life,culture and relgion is theirs - their consciousness- and so be it- let the Arabs rule themselves- the US cant change them--so good luck- to those jews that are good ( not the setller occupying ,welfared ones-nor the IDF torture king -trigger happy and bulldozing soldiers- those type of jews need a reality check) well lets hope for the best- CIAO!!

This guy (General Abizaid) is actually a stud. One of his actions in Grenada was even played by Clint Eastwood in Heartbreak Ridge. You can read about him at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Abizaid The whole article is interesting, if you scroll down to the part "Speech on the War on Terror" you can see his views on Iraq provided the account is factual. "The General believes that our primary enemy is not the insurgency in Iraq, but Al Qaida and their ideology, which is present but has not yet taken hold in any country in the middle east. We need to make sure that it does not, and we are doing that, but it will be a long-term problem requiring a long-term commitment. According to the General, Al Qaida can not defeat the US militarily. Their plan is keep casualties in the media until the American public become convinced that we can not win and leave the region. When we focus on the things that Americans have done wrong, like Abu Ghraib, instead of focusing on the enemy, we are playing into the enemy's hands. Their goal is to get the US out of the region and come to power in the Islamic countries of the region. From there their goal is to establish a Caliphate that goes from the Atlantic in North Africa to Indonesia in the Pacific. Fifty years after this happens their goal is to rule the rest of the world. This would be tragic for our country according to Abizaid". In particular, for Talk Back #7 - as far as Jews or Israelis (or Americans) being devout Arab-haters...that's not true. If all that is written about General Abizaid is true, then his courage and his ability to stand out of the crowd should be applauded. He is a picture of what makes America great, people of all ethnic backgrounds having a chance to compete on a level playing field, and excel. The only problem that most reasonable people have with Arabs and Islam is their desire to impose their will on others. Not all Muslims are terrorists, but all terrorists are Muslims.

Good article. The problem is that with a empty suit like Olmert, Israel is in for another Lebanon style "victory", except on a larger scale.

Very well written. Thanks for the links on Abizaid. Heaven help us all if these Muslims ever achieve their dream Caliphate! Never pull out of Iraq until the job of civilizing them is done!.

One guy said that he converted recently to something. This guy never converted. He is the Muslem. His family are Muslems. He misled everyone around him. You can treaten us that there are 1.4 Muslems and they will kill us all so we better be nice to them. another guy says that US is good because minorities can go very far. US must win in Iraq not promote the rights of 1.4 Muslems and other "minorities". Abu-Zade must beremoved at once.

2 more years of this guy is 8 yrs too many

Whenever I was talking about that with republican US jews or right-wing european jews, I told them what would happen afterwards. The Iraq war will strenghten Iran, not the west. Only G''d knows what kind of place Iraq will become.

"What course of action would it take if Iraq falls into extremist hands?" Iraq has already fallen into extremist hands! The Iraqi government is aligned with Iran, already agreeing to allow the Iranians full use of Iraq's oil wealth. Shiite militias are operating out of the Interior Ministry killing Suunis at will. The Iraqi government openly supports Hezbollah. If this is not an extremist terrorist government, what is?

dear brother David do not get worked up , calm down and have some water , i do now want ague with u about the raligion of Abazaid, may be you misunderstood me , when i was talking the peopulation of the muslim around the world , my intention was not to scared you , the poin i was trying to make is there r 1.3 billion muslims around the world , who have diferant nationality , ideolegy , interest so every muslim is not killer who want to kill u , true as muslim i feel the pain of phalistain children , lebanan childaren , iraq children and also to add u migh not beleive Israel children , american children or that mattar the children around the world no mattar their religion , nationality , skin coler so my brother u have to realize there are many muslims who want peace around the world and i believe they are majority of muslim populution , so david relaxe all of us are not after u or israel , america or west genaral as Afro American philopher once said "Can't we all get along "; peace to u my brother , u have beutiful name , u were name after on of the holiest prophets ( Daauud or David) may god bless him , so my brother trying to kill each other is not gona make one of us happy, cause in order to keep man or woman on the ground u have to be with them in the ground so why do not we all of us leave peace side by side equal and lovin people . Reality check , World

Thanks. Yes, God help us...

Because Christian Arab and Muslim Arab theology and belief system are a world of difference. Why would America appoint a Muslim to fight Muslims as head of their entire Central Command ? All other information on the Internet on him seems to say he came from a Christian Arab upbringing including link to Wikipedia.

When you people learn to: --love life more than death --quit blowing yourselves and futures up --quit envying with cruel lies, vile ignorance and destruction -quit threatening and terrorizing -quit bringing Israeli and US destructions on your lands - then maybe In the meanwhile, all man is equal in the dignity of our humanity; the man or group who shouts, "Nay! they are pigs and monkeys! infidels to kill with ambush, shaid and martyrdom! To that peoples let the ticket to hell be assured and swift.

America's war in Iraq has nothing to do with Israel and please let me remind you your statement that Israel killed "thousands of children and innocents" is not true". The official figure was about 1200 of which at least 600 were hizbollah terrorists. It is impossible to know how many of the remainder were collaborators (many homes were filled with rockets waiting to be launched across the border). Dont forget that hizbollah launched 4000 rockets into civillian areas that only by the will of God didnt kill thousands.

Iraq war has AlLot to do with Israel and its security- are you jewish or something and like top LIE? why is it AIPAC pushed for this war- why is it wolofowitz,perle, kristol , liberman,krauthammer,fleisher-- all jews-israeli firsters pushed for this war- shut your piehole stupid little idiot. and you jews should quit killing children- its not very nice. quit your excuses- we all see through into your arab hate and jew racism.

Clearly the jihadists, etc will be emboldened if / when the US gets out of Iraq under "unfavorable conditions". And certainly they will see Israel as "next". Attacks on Israel will be stepped up - particularly missle attacks. Why, Saddam's old Scuds may suddenly reappear!! So without any help from the US, what do you think Israel will need to do to defend itself? You know that Israel has the ultimate weapons, and will not hesitate to use them if necessary!! So OK, let's get out of the Middle East, because we obviously have no reason to be there, since "they hate us". And don't worry about the ramifications - things will just take care of themselves. Just two messages of advice. 1) Park your car(s) somewhere - you won't be needing it much anymore. 2) Keep your eye on the Doomsday Clock. It is about to move much closer to midnight!!