>O.K, you want to know what I think the US should do now?? The reason that I did not made a single statement about this is because I DON'T KNOW. Withdrawl is bad as it leaves the country in a mess and the strategic goal is lost inmediately as I don't expect the iraqi government to be able to sustain itself.
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>Staying there is not an attractive option either. That would cause an ongoing increace of national debt and probably increase the internation 'hate' against the US. How much longer are countries like china, japan willing to fund those wars? The US is in a financial crisis and it only takes a few countries to take the plug out.
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>Gradual withdrawl with ensuring a stable iraqi government seems the only viable option IMO. But this is something the US cannot (entirely) control. Much depends on the ability of iraw to stablize itself.
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>IMO, I agree with Powell. It's like walking in a china shop: "If you break it, you own it".

Nobody knows.

Situation now is like in one of those cliff-hanger movies; where one climber caused accident messing with another, and now they are both hanging down the cliff on a single rope. Climbing up together along the same rope, has been trid meny times (whole 5 years) and it only gained meaningless few meters up (or down).

If US let Iraq go (cut the rope) only chances for
Iraq are that they lend somehow on some lucky snow-bed with menu broken bones but hopefully alive and with chance for partial recovery; If they don't, US risc falling down along and causing huge avelange on top of it.

Rope is still holding well, but how long nobody can say.
There are some tough decisions to be made in the next couple of years.
Not that it is gonna make that decisions any easier, but US will be blamed eighter way for years to come, any way they turn.

Best solution (imho) would be if they *came up clean* internally meaning;
abort idea of dragging whoever they can (EU) into War-On-terror maddness, idea of ruling middle east by force, abort idea of attacking Iran, threatening Syria etc. They could re-promote UN into credible international institution and say openly; 'We cannot handle this alone - We need help!'

US troops could be gradually replaced by joined UN forces, predominantly from muslim countries. Sunnie troops (UN) could overlook Sunnies, Shia could protect Shia - all under UN umrella. It could be all supervised by US and European CIVIL inspectors and eventually situation could calm down. (In no less then 5 years)

Iran and Syria could actually help quiet a bit if they are invited on negotiation tables, but that 'fruit' is perhaps to bitter to swalow, having in mind Iran's aspirations in the region, and US cross-relations with Israel who is in the very heart of middle east problem. Some smart Lady said, (Tracy posted link to a video recently) that any lasting solution for middle east will have to start from renewed Israel / Palestine peace negotiations. I tend to believe her.

Peace :)