"What if it was YOU inthe oval office? What would you do differently as President? What's you're alternate plan, President Lee?"
I would set a deadline for withdrawal...perhaps two years. I don't think it would have a great practical effect on the strategic planning of the bad guys...but it would have a profound effect on the hearts, minds, and actions of those left to deal with THEIR problem. Additionally it would take the steam out of the widely held belief that we have moved in to take the oil rich, holy land for ourselves....which I'm beginning to wonder about myself (not really...but they do). The rest of the key western countries would be forced to consider the future of the area and contribute far more than they currently are. Embarrassing for the US...an admission of failure? Yeah I guess. Most people admire people who admit they tried their best, but were wrong, and want to make it right.
As I said earlier, I thought we were right initially...but I think it's become pretty bizarre that me might end up killing more Iraqis than Saddam did, while making Iran the strongest state in the Arab world.
I'm a simple guy and have to look at things simply. What if we were in their shoes? Regardless of how corrupt or brutal our leadership might be, would we want Pakistani troops (for example) destoying our army, bombing our capitol, patrolling our steets with tanks and helicoptors, kicking in out doors to confiscate our weapons, ets, etc, for years -especially as a civil war looms anyway?
Regardless of what we do, much of the middle east and Iraq in particular, are going to be bloody, brutal places until the end. For G*ds sake- the Sunnis and Shia kill each other over thousand year old arguments over Ali's bloodline. Do you think we can fix that with MTV and Mickey D's?
130,000 troops would be of much better use HERE, on the borders, in the airports and ports. Hell...have them round up the million or so potenital terrorists living right here and boot heir butts back to Nirvana in the desert.
As Lee the President, I would establish the biggest base in the world in the newly formed and US backed state of Kurdistan, and let the rest of the Iraq sort out theie own problems...even if it kills half of them. It'll happen anyway.