al Qaeda is in Iraq...

[SHRED]

...because the USA is there.
USA leaves and the locals will hunt them down and kick them out.

Obama should have pointed this out in his response to McCain.


---

[tyne]

1. He will.

[Warpy]

2. I'd be surprised if there were more than a dozen

bin Laden trained operatives there. What they're calling al Qaeda in Iraq are a bunch of Saudi hotheads who have crossed the border to help their Sunni brothers battle the apostate Shi'a and infidel US.

You bet the Iraqis will hunt them down once we're gone. They don't want any part of a Saudi type system. Saddam was a thug, but he still gave them a small taste of personal freedom, something they don't want to give up. The Saudis are foreigners and will be expelled or worse.

I think the US is underestimating the national identity they managed to achieve under Saddam. Sunni and Shi'a will never like each other, but they will tolerate each other in the name of being able to go about their business without outside interference. The same goes at the family and tribal level. They know that 3 very weak countries are more likely to be prey than one stronger country would be.

Oh, I don't presume to understand the country much better than the administration has. It's just a huge, complicated situation among a group of minority populations cobbled together by the well meaning but totally hamfisted British Empire out of the ruins the Ottomans left, a hundred times more complicated than any outsider can possibly understand.

However, I know they don't want us there and the only chance they have at escaping continuing slaughter is for us to leave.

[judy]

3. There are many things that Obama could have said in response...

Shred is right, however.
Also, neither Obama nor Hillary mention the way to get out of Iraq:

1 - Pull all the profiteers and foreign contractors, give the Iraqi back their jobs and the responsibility of reconstruction (with the US paying of course, but without KBR etc. it will be 1000 times cheaper. Like $100,000 to rebuild a bridge instead of 5 Million).
2 - THEN, pull all the troops out. They don't have to protect the contractors anymore. And of course, Blackwater and Co will have been pulled on stage 1.
3 - Make a deal whereas if Iraq stays united, oil reserves will be nationalized and the profits from the sale of crude to multinationals will benefit every Iraqi citizen.
4 - Decide then, what to do with the giant embassy and close down the 14 military bases, turn them into hospitals.

Something like that...Kucinich came the closest. But no Iraq solution will work without the above, which we have control over. The rest, as Shred says will work itself out. Al Qaeda, whatever it really is (certainly not what we are told it is) will not stay in a country at peace.

My question to Obama supporters: Jeremy Scahill said that Obama supported using mercenaries if he had to. How can an intelligent man say such a thing? Please help me...I like Obama, but this is absurd!

[samrock]

4. While I agree with the OP, what if...

Say Obama or even Hillary win in November.. They start to do as promised and withdraw troops... When we get under 20k and getting ready to totally leave.. all hell breaks loose between Sunnis and Shites.. Iran starts coverting aiding the Shities, Turkey seeing us leave comes after the Kurds and death tolls start to jump.. and Republicans start screaming.. See we told ya so!!.. What should Pres Barack or Hillary do????

[LynnTheDem]

10. What should they do? Why, stay for as long as we have warm American bodies

to kill & die just so the rightwingnuttery can't screech "told ya so!!!" over continuing George W. bUsh's illegal "supreme crime" Naziesque war of aggression.

:eyes:

[Junkdrawer]

5. ...because our Oil Masters PAY them to be in Iraq. n/t

[moondust]

6. They very well may leave of their own accord

when the U.S. leaves. Would they stick around just to kill Sunnis who have turned against them? Doubtful. They have a safe haven in Pakistan if that's what they want. It's absurd to pretend that they could somehow "take over the country" as John McWar claims in his fear bombs. I don't see any good reason for them to stay there.

[earthlover]

7. Obama already HAS pointed this out last week!

[madokie]

8. something tells me that Barak Obama is not going to take any shit whatsoever

from these band of crooks and liars. Thats why I voted for him and why I will will be voting for him come November this year. He likes where he is and he is not going to let anything or anyone stop or get in his way. Hes just what America needs today, a good man with a good head on his shoulders and a big assed heart in his chest. I love the man, I don't think he will let us down, ever. Right now in history there is a good opportunity for someone to come in and turn things around for the good and make a good name for himself and he knows that. He'll do us proud, its as simple as that. America may just be entering into an era of none while males as our Presidents. I look forward to it.

Mr. Obama is not bought and paid for, that I like

[madfloridian]

9. He did point it out. Saw it on TV several times.

[madfloridian]

11. Video of Obama saying it quite well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JNEEEXKGiE

[labour]

12. your signature

you have a good signature

[NNN0LHI]

13. Who is al Qaeda in Iraq really?

Just because "someone" puts up a web site claiming to be al Qaeda in Iraq (that we can't shut down?) does that make it so? Does the military consider every Iraqi they shoot or drop a bomb on as members of al Qaeda in Iraq? That is the kind of questions Obama needs to be getting the answers for. Otherwise he is playing right into McCains hand.

Don