Will Bush Sneak Troops Out In The Night?

[bemildred]

I do not understand all the Republican rhetoric about handing a victory to the enemy if a withdrawal date is set for the Iraq war. I do not understand why this is telling the enemy our game plan or strategy.

Does Bush plan on leaving the troops over in Iraq forever? He keeps stating that the troops will come home when the job is done, whatever that means, but when he feels the job is done, or whoever the next President is, when he/she feels the job is done, and the withdrawal of troops is announced to the country, won't "the enemy" know our plans then as well? Won't that also be handing the enemy a victory? Isn't this also giving away our game plan?

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Bush's 2nd term has been an extreme letdown. I voted for him in 2004 and even supported going into Iraq like most of America. The only war I was alive for prior to March 2003 was the Gulf War, so in my mind, I imagined a similar experience for the Iraq War. Swift victory, quick results.

Though I am traditionally Republican, I applaud the Democrats for forcing the President's hand on this issue. Vetoing this bill will be Bush's way of telling the nation, I will not negotiate. I will not move to the center. I will not bend, buckle, discuss, or acknowledge any authority in America except me.

Chattanoogan

[Old and In the Way]

1. Can't protect the oil investment without US troops.

There's an onerous law being foisted on the Iraqi people that is designed to give US oil interests control of 80% of Iraq's oil. Can't see how they can enforce that provision without US troops guarding the pumps, pipelines, and terminals. We've made a Trillion dollar investment/gamble in invading and occupying Iraq for this asset. I don't see how he will walk away from that. The real question for the American people is, do you want to spend $2-300BB/year to maintain this investment or do we pursue a clean break and a completely new national energy/national security policy that weens us off Republican Big Oil interests?

[Turbineguy]

2. Bush will do whatever it takes

to commit the biggest blunder.

[rgbecker]

3. The truth is....

Bush, Cheney, and the rest of them have never suggested leaving Iraq because the whole point was to establish a foothold in the region to assure the flow of oil to the oil companies that are now getting $3.00/gal for gas. They want to "Stabilize" the region, and have just felt awful about losing the Shah in Iran back in 1979. Time to leave the middle east to the Arabs and pay attention to our own problems, ie: Health care costs, greenhouse gas emissions, sustainable energy production and equity of income distribution.

[INdemo]

4. When this bill goes back to Congress after the Veto

One could bet that there will not be one single Republican vote for it, if it stands as is with a few changes,but still have a withdrawal date.
This is no time for the Democrats to cave. If they stay united,and I believe they will because the majority of Americans want this, we will see a signed bill eventually with a withdrawal date.
What this President wants to do is to make this war a burden for Democrats and the next President that no doubt will be a Democrat.

[Vidar]

5. Victory equals $10 / gallon gasoline prices. Then they can come home,

if the banks haven't repossessed it.