Soldiers say Iraq pullout would be devastating

[peejay 327]

Soldiers say Iraq pullout would be devastating

Leaving fledgling state could help insurgents, betray Iraqis, troops warn

By Josh White

The Washington Post

Updated: 7:14 a.m. CT Nov 6, 2006

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SYKES, Iraq - For the U.S. troops fighting in Iraq, the war is alternately violent and hopeful, sometimes very hot and sometimes very cold. It is dusty and muddy, calm and chaotic, deafeningly loud and eerily quiet.

The one thing the war is not, however, is finished, dozens of soldiers across the country said in interviews. And leaving Iraq now would have devastating consequences, they said.

With a potentially historic U.S. midterm election on Tuesday and the war in Iraq a major issue at the polls, many soldiers said the United States should not abandon its effort here. Such a move, enlisted soldiers and officers said, would set Iraq on a path to civil war, give new life to the insurgency and create the possibility of a failed state after nearly four years of fighting to implant democracy.

"Take us out of that vacuum -- and it's on the edge now -- and boom, it would become a free-for-all," said Lt. Col. Mark Suich, who commands the 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment just south of Baghdad. "It would be a raw contention for power. That would be the bloodiest piece of this war."

The soldiers declined to discuss the political jousting back home, but they expressed support for the Bush administration's approach to the war, which they described as sticking with a tumultuous situation to give Iraq a chance to stand on its own.

Leading Democrats have argued for a timeline to bring U.S. troops home, because obvious progress has been elusive, especially in Baghdad, and even some Republican lawmakers have recently called for a change in strategy. But soldiers criticized the idea of a precipitate withdrawal, largely because they believe their hard work would go for naught.

'A simple solution just isn't possible'

Capt. Jim Modlin, 26, of Oceanport, N.J., said he thought the situation in Iraq had improved between his deployment in 2003 and his return this year as a liaison officer to Iraqi security forces with the 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, based here on FOB Sykes outside Tall Afar. Modlin described himself as more liberal than conservative and said he had already cast his absentee ballot in Texas. He said he believed that U.S. elected officials would lead the military in the right direction, regardless of what happens Tuesday.

"Pulling out now would be as bad or worse than going forward with no changes," Modlin said. "Sectarian violence would be rampant, democracy would cease to exist, and the rule of law would be decimated. It's not 'stay the course,' and it's not 'cut and run' or other political catchphrases. There are people's lives here. There are so many different dynamics that go on here that a simple solution just isn't possible."

Soldiers and officers had difficulty conveying what victory in Iraq would look like or exactly how to achieve it. In some ways, victory is a moving target, they said, one that relies heavily on the Iraqi people gaining trust in the Iraqi security forces and the ability of the Iraqi government to support essential services. In northern Iraq, officials said they expect to hand over major parts of the country to Iraqi forces within the next five months, but most agree that Baghdad will be far behind.

Even if top commanders meet their goal of transferring authority to the Iraqi army within the next 18 months, a U.S. presence long after that is likely, several officers said.

"This is a worthwhile endeavor," said Maj. Gen. Benjamin Mixon, commander of Multinational Division North and the 25th Infantry Division. "Nothing that is worthwhile is usually easy, and we need to give this more time for it to all come together. We all want to come home, but we have a significant investment here, and we need to give the Iraqi army and the Iraqi people a chance to succeed."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15582948/

[Hornet 2]

Listen to the troops America!!!!!

But I guess most are to busy watching American Idol or Dancing with the Stars! to learn a damm thing from the troops whose azz's are the ones in harms way!!

Semper Fi Bros!!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

"Pulling out now would be as bad or worse than going forward with no changes," Modlin said.

[DeadPoolX 9]

This is entirely off-topic, but am I the only one whose thoughts went right into the gutter when I read that statement?

Okay, seriously speaking now...I am in complete agreement with this article. If there's one source the American people should listen to, it's the troops -- the men and women who're putting their lives on the line every day. They know far more about what's going on than any of us do here, from our comfy homes.

[Ban Hammer 14,271]

This is entirely off-topic, but am I the only one whose thoughts went right into the gutter when I read that statement?

Okay, seriously speaking now...I am in complete agreement with this article. If there's one source the American people should listen to, it's the troops -- the men and women who're putting their lives on the line every day. They know far more about what's going on than any of us do here, from our comfy homes.

our liberal vj democrats would disagree

[Cristy 4]

I agree pulling out now would be insane. You don't go in and do what has been done and just leave. My mom always made me clean up my mess before I left somebody's house.

[almaty 19]

i heard the same sh!t doing viet nam....

[Ban Hammer 14,271]

i heard the same sh!t doing viet nam....

you were doing vietnam? you stud you!

[Carol&Marc 0]

This is entirely off-topic, but am I the only one whose thoughts went right into the gutter when I read that statement?

Okay, seriously speaking now...I am in complete agreement with this article. If there's one source the American people should listen to, it's the troops -- the men and women who're putting their lives on the line every day. They know far more about what's going on than any of us do here, from our comfy homes.

Yeah we got lots of "in the know specialists" here! they cut and paste articles all day long of there favorite leftwing news agencies. They especially like looking at the pictures to get their facts.

[almaty 19]

i heard the same sh!t doing viet nam....

you were doing vietnam? you stud you!

damn that was good brother charles....lmao...and yes, i got a ltittle mud

[mybackpages 0]

soldiers do not make policy and there is a reason why the military is controlled by a civillian

Edited November 6, 2006 by mybackpages

[LaL 418]

This is entirely off-topic, but am I the only one whose thoughts went right into the gutter when I read that statement?

Okay, seriously speaking now...I am in complete agreement with this article. If there's one source the American people should listen to, it's the troops -- the men and women who're putting their lives on the line every day. They know far more about what's going on than any of us do here, from our comfy homes.

our liberal vj democrats would disagree

absolutely not. Speaking as one of the VJ dems, a pull out now would be rediculous.

I just argue that we should have never gone there

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

This is entirely off-topic, but am I the only one whose thoughts went right into the gutter when I read that statement?

Okay, seriously speaking now...I am in complete agreement with this article. If there's one source the American people should listen to, it's the troops -- the men and women who're putting their lives on the line every day. They know far more about what's going on than any of us do here, from our comfy homes.

our liberal vj democrats would disagree

I don't.

You sure about that?

[cmartyn 0]

We pulled out of New Orleans quick enough.. might as well be consistent.

[kaydee457 13]

This all moot since the Republicans are going to sweep both houses and subsequently we will prevail in Iraq....