Do you not recommend to stop current development if it is the wrong thing to do? If you know that the cost of following the current strategy is high compared to the potential benefit.

I have stated before the plan that seems to make the most sense to me at the current time, and you discounted it from the start. I do believe our presence in the region is part of the problem. I do believe most of the violence over there is sectarian. It is not a problem that will follow us back to the USA.

The amount of insurgency violence is a small percentage now. And their would be no reason for it if we did not have a presence in the region. There are regions that are more stable then others and it makes sense to focus on those that are the biggest problems. Withdrawl from the stable areas to focus on the problem areas. There is nothing to indicate that regions will destabilize without our precense.

The cost of the current strategy with our money, how many billions per week, and blood is not worth it.

First, I don't think our being in Iraq has diddly to do with the fight on terror. It has to do with a group in our govt that feels they have the right to dictate to the world. And they set their sites on Iraq a long time ago as a starting point.

This strategy caused them to remove resources from Afghanistan, something I've not heard one argument that this was a good idea.

Second, we do have areas, Afghanistan, that are unquestionably a source of terror. We need to stabilize that region before considering anything else.





>If I'm working on a software project that is headed down the wrong direction, it is my responsibility to both (a) point this out and (b) suggest alternatives.
>
>You, on the other hand, appear to only want to grouse and moan about things. Either you have something to suggest or you don't. If all you can come up with is that we need to pull out now, then say so. In all probability I will disagree with whatever you propose, but at least that tells me you have given the issue some thought.
>
>As a former serviceman, I know what the costs are with our involvement over there. We are buying, with our blood and our treasure, the potential for security for US, as well as an opportunity for a better future for the Iraqi people. Notice I say "potential" and "opportunity". Nothing is guaranteed, and it is possible that we will fail, or the Iraqis will fail themselves. But I would rather we made the effort than not. Saddam Hussein was, in my opinion, a threat to the US and his neighbors.
>
>>I don't think we could ever come close to agreeing on anything about this since it appears to me we are so diametrically apposed on the worth of human life.
>
>How dare you. I gave three of the best years of my life to keep your sorry backside free to make bogus judgements like that. I answered the call again in 1991, and it is only my age that keeps me from volunteering a third time. If it comes to it, I will encourage both of my sons to serve for exactly the same purpose. If you want to disagree with me and my opinions, fine, that's your right. But don't you dare preach to me about the worth of human life.