OK...
Now that I've got your attention.
What exactly would be wrong with pulling out of Iraq right now? So what if there's a civil war? So what if Iran steps in and takes over? SO WHAT?
We accomplished what we meant to accomplish didn't we - no WMD's and Sadaam's boys aint in control anymore.
It's not like we're getting all that much oil from Iraq either (are we?).
So I ask again - So what if we pull out now? If they're spending all their time and effort killing each other that leaves them a whole lot less time to figure out how to kill US!
Erm, Iran is gonna gain a heck of a lot of influence regardless of whether we stay or leave. The Shiites were oppressed by the Sunnis for a long time. The *expletive deleted*it solidarity is not something you'd want to underestimate. Currently, Iran is the only major *expletive deleted*it run country in the region.
Hrm. There WERE no large quantities of WMD's. The ISG did their investigation, wrote their report and went home. (The ISG was the US govt's official WMD inspection team.) Yea, Saddam's clan is no longer running the show, but the Islamic fundimentalists didn't get along with Saddam. Actually, they downright hated him. (He was an evil dictator, but he was a secular evil dictator.) He supported the Palestinian insurgents, but obviously didn't get too comfy with the Islamic fundimentalists who wanted to overthrow him.
Dispite claims to the contrary, yes, there is a big difference between Palestinians and Islamic fundimentalists. There's more than a little overlap, but they fundimentally have different goals. The Palestinians are primarily nationalistic, as opposed to Islamic fundimentalism which has a much wider scope. Sure, the Palestinians will talk a good game of pan-Arab unity or Islamic unity, or whatever gets them more money. Back in the day, they talked international solidarity to get support from the Soviet Union. Anyone who thinks the Palestinians were really commies needs their head checked.
And no, we're not getting much oil from Iraq because a lot of the infrastructure is wrecked. Tho, it did give OPEC and oil companies an excuse to jack up prices. The invasion caused the perception of lower supply, which is BS, as Iraq didn't produce that much that couldn't be compensated through OPEC quota modifications.
The Iranians did fund and promote regional terrorism against the US, but shied away from terrorism outside the region. Part of it was retaliation for the whole Shah regime thing, plus covert assistance of their secular enemy (Iraq). If we left the region, the Shiites would most likely mind their own business as they have a bigger bone to pick with the Sunni.
On the other hand, the Sunnis tend to back the extraregional terrorism. They've sponsored terrorism attacks in the US, Europe, Africa, and eastern Asia. However, we're "friendly" with a lot of Sunni controlled governments. Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Kuwait, etc. Invading Saudi Arabia would have been a much better idea than invading Iraq, as the Saudi govt funds international terrorism on a very broad scale. Don't believe me? Look up the nationalities of the September 11th terrorists. Count how many were Iraqi, and how many were Saudi.
If you think all Islamic fundimentalists are the same, you're dreaming. Different folks with very different goals. Some are direct threats to America, others are only threats to their own governments.
What would happen if we pulled out? Eh, civil war. Maybe the Kurds would finally get their Kurdistan. I happen to like the Kurds and have a lot of empathy for their dream of a homeland. I have a couple of their rugs hanging on my walls. Much too beautiful to step on, it'd be almost sacrireligious to destroy such artwork. The Sunnis would attempt a nationalist campaign to unify the country under their rule again. The Shiites fight back, and maybe seek some quasi official relationship with Iran. A handful, and only a handful, of foreign Islamic fundimentalists would set up shop trying to turn Iraq into a Islamic theocracy. Good news is that the majority of the foreign Islamic fundimentalists are Sunni, and the Shiites would have a vested interest in killing them.
Sooner or later, there's gonna be a civil war in Iraq. Doesn't matter if we leave tomorrow or in ten years. Or a hundred, for that matter. The Kurds are never going to give up their quest for a homeland. If the Shiites were smart, they'd cut a deal with the Kurds. The Sunni want control of the country back. The Shiites don't want to be ruled by the Sunni.
You can sing "federalism and nationalism!" until you're blue in the face. It ain't gonna change the fact that the folks on the ground have vastly different interests, and none of 'em want to be ruled by another group.