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June 30th, 2009
08:05 AM ET
U.S. Troop Pullback
Today marks the deadline for American troops to pull out of Iraq's towns and cities.
A new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll suggests nearly three-quarters of all Americans support the plan, even though most think that the troop pullback will lead to an increase in violence in that country.
What do you think? Do you support the plan to withdraw most U.S. combat troops from Iraqi urban areas?
Leave us a comment. We’ll read some of them on air in the CNN Newsroom, 11am ET— 1pm ET
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It is a mixed bag of issues. We need to get our troops out of Iraq. However, I feel there will be alot of violence in the wake of our withdrawal and Iraq will return to its former political unrest. Maybe, even a civil war.
I'm a Barbadian and I support the withdrawal 110 per cent. As far as I am concerned 4,000 plus Americans sacrificing their lives in that war is more than enough. Too many American mothers and fathers have lost their sons, too many American wives and children have lost their husbands and fathers, far too many American brothers, sisters, grandmothers, aunts, uncles, cousins ... are grieving the lost of some one they loved. It's time the Iraqis take responsibility for their own lives.
I don't understand why Lt. Choi should be discharged. He is just another human being. The conservatives better get it, because sooner or later, the inexorable march of society will trample their sensitivities as everything advances.
All I can say is thank God it's over. yes, Iraq will continue to be a war zone for years to come, but at least it will be THEIR war, not ours.
Obama should have kept to campaign promise and brought our troops home, not shift them away from areas that are now supposedly safe enough for Iraqis to 'manage' themselves. Moving them from large cities will just increase the violence against them, heard of sitting ducks? We are still living by the old administration's policies, it's just a different looking head of state.
Now we will really see if the loss of American lives was worth it. I doubt it! Watch all the terrorists, sects, etc., come out of the woodwork and start trying to take over.
The last few U.S. Troops would surely be sitting ducks for the OP forces. Removal en-masse would be the best, where possible.
Making arrangements with Jordon, Kuwait or Turkey and collectively move out with as much Air cover that is possible to muster.
Would it not be interesting to hear what Iran would say if our collective move would , say be in the direction of Iran without NO intention to cross the border. REMEMBER NEDA.!
John, Chino Hills, CA
I beleive that it is past time for U.S. troops to leave Iraq but my question would be is it too soon? I beleive we never should have invaded Iraq in the beginning but due to the fact that we did Im not sure that now is the time to leave. Ever since the day got closer for U.S. troops to leave Iraq we have seen an uprise in bombings and suicide attacks. I beleive that we will continue to see an uprising in bombings and attacks but the Iraqis need to eventually take back control of there country and take responsibility for there own country, even though I beleive bombings and attacks will increase. I wish nothing for the best for the country of Iraq and my prayers are with the country but I think its to soon to withdrawl even though we eventually need to.
Scott Stodden (Freeport, IL)
Since our withdrawal is a requirement by the Iraqui Government we have no choice but to leave.
It irritates me, that the talking heads on CNN, think that just because someone approves of and likes the President; we can't think for oursleves. I greatly resented that comment on the Situation Room yesterday. I don't hear them saying that when someone obviously dislikes the President, we should discount everything they say.
The Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds have been fighting since the begining
of time, how does the US think they are going to change their culture
and government? We need to fix America. We are in Iraq, Afghanistan
and soon Pakistan because of weapons that we think are a danger
to the US we gave them the weapons. For years we criticized Cuba
for human rights abuses now we have prisoners and we are denying
their rights in CUBA. That is why the rest of the world hates us.
It's time for Iraqi to take their country back! It may not be a perfect environment for them, but it is totally up to them politically to fix their own country. War can only take them so far!
I am convinced that as long as the Iraqi army thinks we are waiting in the wings to come back to their aid, the motivation to succeed is dramatically diminished. These soldiers don't have the same motivation as the bombers, terrorists, etc. That is common sense. But we will never get out of there if they don't succeed in assuming the responsibility. We are continuing to keep ourselves in the middle by being there, a lose/lose scenario.
If the Iraqi's have not figured out how to run their country by now they may never learn how and we can't babysit them forever. I wish them the best of wishes and Welcome our Troups Home.
In all this talk about a pullback, the story that is not being reported is that soldiers, such as my husband are still being stop lossed and sent back on second and third deployments to Iraq, which was announced to them only last week as they were preparing to get out of the Army in the coming months. While it is good that our troops are being taken out of the cities, please don't forget that we are still at war and this is still tearing families apart. It's not over yet, and until all our troops are home we shouldn't be talking about Iraq like everything is over and done with.
HIGHEST TIME TO START BRINGING OUR TROOPS HOME, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.
Some where Dick Cheney is crying......
Weather or not the Lt. should be discharged for homosexuality, I'd rather not make that judgement call. I do disagree with gays in the military because of the enviorment in which we live in. We live in close quarters and shower next to each other and thats already an uncomfortable situation. Females and Males dont sleep in the same bivwac to discourage sexual activity. If gays are allowed to be open in the military will they need special provision to prevent sexual activity? If gays want to serve, then serve. Heterosexuals dont parade around screaming our sexual preference. What you do at home is your business. Dont bring your personal life to work. Oorah!
SGT. Powell
USMC
Yes I think It would be great if we pull out. I think we should let them deal with their own internal problems. Let's learn to mind our own buisness, We have enough problems here
We shouldn't have invaded but, having done so, we are responsible for the consequences of our actions. I've been opposed to our leaving because of the chaos we created and the chaos which would ensue upon our departure. However, it does seem endless and, ultimately, Iraqis have to take responsibility for their own country. Civil war may well follow our departure – what a mess we created!
Violence will come back as the opposition will attempt to gain control of the country. Watch out for Iran attempting to take advantage of the situation and take total control. Can you imagine Iraq and Iran uniting? We really would be having a problem.
The US invaded another country, spent thousands of lives and billions of dollars to:
1. Prevent the use of WMD's
2. Change the regime
3. Create a democracy in the Middle East
Is it too soon to leave? No. It is years later than it should have been.
Is the plan to withdraw from Iraqi urban areas a good one? Hard to say but I suspect it will put the soldiers at risk. But if it is a part of the process to exit Iraq in the next year, then so be it.
Get out of Iraq! Get out of Afganistan! Spend the money saved on health care and the environment.
There is only one word that describes the Iraq war "Disaster"
America should never have engaged in an unlawful war in the first place
and more than few a people from the bush administration should be brought to justice! The sooner we pull out of Iraq the better Tony.
America needs to focus more on itself and let other countries deal with their issues. President Obama has handled the Iranian election outrage with elegance and that is something we need to thank him for.
Samuel from NY
I'm glad for the troops pulling out of Iraq. Now let's see if the Iraq troops have the backbone to ward off the Demon Mullah's from Iran when they send in Iranian troops to take over Iraq. Then the USA will have to do a tune up on the Demon Iranian Mullah's from HELL.
To see the natives celebrating the American troop withdrawal, really both angers and disappoints me. Clearly, George Bush should be brought up on charges. We, American troops should kiss Iraq and their CIVIL warring goodbye. Just get all of them OUT. What Victory you idiot John McCain?
We shouldn't have attacked Iraq in the first place. 4300 lives later, at least this is progress.
They need to come home, not just camp outside the cities.
The Iraqi people never wanted us there in the first place. It was a Bush/Cheney regime sick fantasy. It was always Bushes war, not Americas war. Unfortunately over 4,300 brave Americans lost their lives along with many thousands of innocent Iraqi men women and children. The sooner we get out the better.
No the pull out is just a little to early, if we make a problem we should solve it before going on our marry way. But for the sake of our troops I my self am glad to see them a little more out of danger.
I think Iraq served as a battlefield for America to fight people who despise what America stands for and would like to see her ultimate downfall ie Islamic extremist , al quaida. Americans should be grateful to the American soldiers for fighting and killing them there. This reduces the amount of nutcases we have to worry about and makes us safer.
Well Tony, I've rarely seen a CNN anchor as speechless as you when Michael Weir answered your question about what has been accomplished in Iraq.
At last US troops are being greeted as Liberators which proves if you wait long enough even George Bush and Donald Rumsfeld will be proven right about something.
Of course they should get out of Iraq. They should never have gone in the first place. The sad thing is most of them will be going in to Afghanistan where General McCrystal has finally come to the conclusion that bombing the Hell out of women and children is not a good thing to do and maybe troops and pilots should look before firing blind into villages and population centres.
The fact that its taken nearly eight years to have that brilliant insight doesn't speak well of the American military mind or the 'heroism' of the warriors that carry it out.
I can't forget that the invasion of Afghanistan opened with an American hotshot pilot blowing up a Canadian platoon. I'm glad we're getting out. If you show the same military quick wittedness as you have so far, its going to be a long time before you get a chance to be cheered as liberators there or anywhere else.
Absolutely. We can't govern other countries and force Iraq to stop sectarian violence. Why allow more of our men and women to die for what appears to be a bit of a futile effort?
Yes, I agree. I am ready for my husband to come home!!! This is his 3rd tour to Iraq and I would like for it to be his last. I love you SSG. Shumake!!
Re Iraq
Get ALL of our troops out of Iraq soonest.
If the Iraquis want to kill each other, that's their problem. NOT ours.
Save our troops. Bring them home.
We have no business being in Iraq. It's their country NOT ours
Sincerelyt, Jack Sample
Yes, yes, yes, the drawback and hand over to Iraq of its cities is the ethnical and politically correct thing to do. Now let the US troops march right on across that desert and home. Whether there is more or less violence and what the Iraqis do about it is their business, as it has always been in truth.
I absolutely agree we should pull our troops out. They never should have been there in the first place. I expect there will be more violence as different factions try to take control but this was going to happen if we leave now or 5 years from now. I am glad it is winding down.
Great, now lets get them back to America and start pulling our troops out of S. Korea, Germany, Japan and other countries throughout the world.
Tom B.
I think it's about time for the pull out. It has been over eight years. Iraq needs to learn to fend for itself. It's time for the US to focus on it own problems. We can't keep helping other countries when we can't help ourselves. When Soldiers are fighting and risking their lives to train Iraqi Soldiers, their families are becoming homeless, loosing their jobs, and going into debt. The war at home needs to be fought now. The Iraqis have had enough training. If they don't get it by now, they never will.
Yes, I agree it's time for us to pull out of Iraq as agreed. I think Al Quada's mission has been all along to keep us bogged down in Iraq so we can't concentrate on capturing Osama bin Laden once and for all.
Yes, get the troops out of Iraq.
I fully support US witdraw from Iraqi urban areas. Atleast its going better than our withdraw from Vietnam. And it looks good for us, in the global community, to bow out of a situation where we weren't necessarily welcome in the first place.
Tony,
Horray for Michael Ware! Finally someone from CNN is telling it like it
is in Iraq!! 4,300 of our magnificent, wonderful troops have died and
25,000 maimed, FOR WHAT??
Also, we must never forget that Michael Jackson was a HORRIBLE, CHILD MOLESTING FREAK!! Not a National hero! Oh ya, he also
sang and danced. Please start telling the truth about him!!
Jeff
It is high time US troops left iraqi cities. Every country in the process of establishing itself needs to be able to figure out its own issues, without interference.
Whether it causes more terrorist attacks, civil war, or finally the taking of democratic responsibilities of the various peoples of Iraq, ultimately this is their problem to solve.
It took a 6+ year war to remove a dictator (who we supported during the Iraq-Iran War) in 3 years which could have taken only 1 year to do.
We have no business in Iraq, or anywhere in the Middle East, for that matter. No one there wants us in their backyard. How would you like it if someone just suddenly occupied your front lawn?
Although I have supported the war from the beginning, as well as volunteered to fight it, I think its about time to withdraw, but slowly. The worst that could happen would be that all the lives and hard work, not to mention tax dollars, are wasted because of premature departure from Iraq. We owe it to our soldiers, hard work, and tax dollars to make sure the job is done.
Esteban, Las Cruces, NM
The Iraqis are on their own and the US owes them not one more dollar, life or limb for Bush's adventure into spreading democracy in the mideast. I wish them well, but would not be surprised to see a rapid descent into a more intense civil war than now exists.
I am one (among many I presume) who think that the war in Iraq was a stupid war to be in from the beginning. I find this to be a step in the right direction, but I think it is not far enough. I believe there should be a total pull-out.
The U.S. is not getting anything done in iraq. All were doing is risking more and more lives. I am a guy that loves this country and loves the troops and i don't want to see them dying for nothing.
I think we should pull all our troops out now and let the Iraqi forces take full control over their country. They probably will turn against each other but it is not in our national interest to stop an inevitable civil war between the three different parties! It is in our national interest to stop the Iranian regime from their terrorist support and the building of nuclear weapons and we should use all our forces in the region to remove the regime from power or we will have a regional war between the Sunnis and Shiites within the Islamic nations vying for power!
now that were pulling out ive iraq lets look back a few years like on 9-11 for starts over 3000 people die from the taliban and alkida so we attack iraq and use afganistane as a home base this is evedently more revenge then security on sodoms part but the worst thing is we still dont have osama after almost eight thousand people have died we didnt acomplish our objective which is osama binlaudin but I bet if he ever showes his face hes going to be meat balls .
Health care reform concern.
What will happen to all of us who use alternative Doctors?
Since insurances pay an amount for a Dr's visit anyway,
why can't we simply be "alloted" that same amount so we can use it toward any Dr. we choose?
Example, if insurance is going to pay Dr. Smith, MD, $ 40, toward the patients visit.............why can't patient get the same $40 credit, to use toward their alternative Dr?
Let the patient send in the Dr. bill, and have insurance company issue either a refund, or a $40 voucher to be used toward the next visit to a Dr. of their choosing, with either no expiration date, or a date good for at least a year.
Since we don't cost the insurance company any money for drugs and surgeries, (or at least a lot less ) we should get some kind of benefit.
Here is a way to save on health care/prevention: stop bullying in schools. Bullying is a big cause of mental health illness and suicide. This is one of the root causes that increases number of people with mental illness. Stop schools of being a laboratory of mental illness. Kids have the right on feeling safe in schools. Imagine the savings in money and pain of millions of people with Depression and other mental problems. Go for it Obama.
I am having such a difficult time finding various websites on the CNN website about troop support. Please someone send me some links that were discussed earlier today on Push it forward with Heidi Collins. I have a friend who needs desperate help.
Thank you