A unique poll of active duty troops in Iraq shows a huge disconnect between the Commander in Chief and his troops in battle. It is evident that the President views the war very differently than the troops on the ground. The loss of the troops may be the final straw in the illegal occupation turned into a failed war.
The foreign policy establishment had already told the President they thought Iraq War was a mistake. The people have been saying the war was a mistake. All that is left are President Bush and the hawkish leaders of the two parties – only they are calling for staying the course or sending more troops.
A poll by Le Moyne College and Zogby shows that if you want to support the troops you should be calling for an end to the war. An overwhelming majority, 72% of American troops serving in Iraq think the U.S. should exit the country within the next year. Among Reserves 90% favor withdrawal compared to 83% of the National Guard, 70% of the Army, and 58% of the Marines. Moreover, about three-quarters of National Guard and Reserve units favor withdrawal within 6 months.
It seems Rep. John Murtha (D-PA), who has called for an immediate withdrawal to be completed within six months, is more in tune with the troops than their Commander in Chief.
In a speech given on November 17, 2005 Murtha said: “The war in Iraq is not going as advertised. It is a flawed policy wrapped in illusion. The American public is way ahead of us. The United States and coalition troops have done all they can in Iraq, but it is time for a change in direction. Our military is suffering. The future of our country is at risk. We cannot continue on the present course.”
Even leading conservative commentators (Pat Buchanan, Francis Fukuyama, Paul Craig Roberts) now describes the invasion as a mistake and that the occupation has failed. William F. Buckley has called on the administration to admit defeat and change strategy.
The poll also shows that the troops are confused by the mission in Iraq. Forty-two percent acknowledge their confusion. And, while 58% think they know why they are there, in fact they are acting on inaccurate information. When troops are asked why they are in Iraq, 85% said it was “to retaliate for Saddam's roll in the 9-11 attacks” – when in fact Sadam had no role in 9-11. And, 77% of soldiers thought it was “to stop Saddam from protecting Al Qaeda in Iraq” – again Sadam and Al Qaeda were never allies, indeed they were enemies.
The troops have figured out that they are not there for the reason stated by the President – 93% recognize they are not there to remove Weapons of Mass Destruction. The vast majority (76%) also do not believe that the United States is establishing a democracy that can be a model for the Arab world. But they do not accept that securing oil was the major purpose – only 11% accept that rationale.
Not only do an overwhelming majority of soldiers in Iraq want the occupation to end rapidly but the foreign policy establishment of the United States is opposed to the war and is speaking out against the president's policies. These include:
Gen. Joseph P. Hoar, a retired four-star general, was Commander in Chief of the U.S. Central Command (1991-94) and commanded the U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf after the 1991 war, who described the Iraq War as “wrong from the beginning, and so as is often the case, it's very hard to make it right once you start down the wrong road.”
Re: “You support the troops? You must be calling for ending war”
it's very hard to make it right once you start down the wrong
road.”
Very true...
It would be great to get all the troop out...I agree
but what then for all the Iraqi people?
The last thing we need is a civil war...I dread to think of it ending up like that ...and with Iran next door ready to step in (I believe)..they would be in a worse state than they where when Saddam was in charge...
only God knows what is going to happen.
Re: “You support the troops? You must be calling for ending war”
It's a big mistake for Bush to send his army to Iraq, but looking at what is happening now, it'll be even a more....bigger mistake to pull out his army.
He did rubbish in Iraq, he ought to clean it himself before he leave.ffended:
Re: “You support the troops? You must be calling for ending war”
format_quote Originally Posted by north_malaysian
It's a big mistake for Bush to send his army to Iraq, but looking at what is happening now, it'll be even a more....bigger mistake to pull out his army.
He did rubbish in Iraq, he ought to clean it himself before he leave.ffended:
lol and pple say civil strife dosnt help the US
its the exact justification they need to stay in iraq while everyone wants them out, they can say look at the situation and the infighting, if we pull out there will be civil war.... this buys them more time to defeat the mijahdeen( they wish)
iraqis dont need US to avoid civil war because US is inciting it
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ffended:
It's a big mistake for Bush to send his army to Iraq, but looking at what is happening now, it'll be even a more....bigger mistake to pull out his army.
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