POLL: Will pulling US troops out of Iraq shorten the civil war currently raging?

[Selatius]

I ask this question because of comparisons to Viêtnam some have made. If the South Viêtnamese government, corrupt and autocratic as it was, was not being propped up by heavy US intervention, would that government stay in power for as long as it did? Or would it have fallen by the early 1960s, instead of well over a decade later and over 2,000,000 dead civilians later when it actually fell in 1975 thereby concluding all heavy fighting?

By some estimates, we've already killed over 500,000 Iraqis, so it's quite possible we could end up killing 2,000,000 civilians again if we fight another decade-long war in somebody else's country. Is 2,000,000 worth the price if we believe it could prevent a civil war that could kill even more? And who says more will die? What if only another 200,000 die after the US leaves? Do we even have a right to determine this question? Or is this solely the realm of Iraqis to decide?

The question: Will pulling US troops out of Iraq shorten the civil war currently raging?

[Warren Stupidity]

1. How about Other: question is irrelevant?

I really don't care if the conflict gets worse. It would be nice if it just evaporated, but I wouldn't count on it. The fact is that we have no business being there, our presence is an onging war crime. We need to get out now.

[Selatius]

2. Coincidentally, I had contemplated an 8th option to the poll but left it out ultimately

It stated exactly,

"Here's another idea. We simply listen to the overwhelming majority of Iraqis when they say: Get the hell out. This is a problem for us and perhaps the UN to solve, not yours. This is our land, not yours. Give us back what you took and go home."

Of course, it would've had to be shorter because the poll would truncate the statement, but I concluded this sentiment would've been reflected in the side of the poll that generally favored leaving.

[RDANGELO]

3. At first, it will probably get worse.

The violence will probably get worse after we leave, but things will not get better until we do. Eventually, either one entity will take over the whole country ,or Iraq will partition itself at which point there can be negotiations. While all this is going on we have to work with the Middle East and the World community to ensure an independent Iraq.

[Ready4Change]

4. Absolutely yes, but it will get awfully bloody, awfully fast, before ending.

All we're doing now is delaying the inevitable in this botched up job.