Quote Originally Posted by TROUFION View Post
Quiting...the US Military forced to LOSE?

This question could be asked under the thread of rear area politics, but I prefer to couch it in future war theory. The rhetoric of late has ratcheted up nicely, the war in Iraq has dropped in opinion polls to about 29% approval or less. We have addressed the idea of quitting in many different forums but lets bring it home here.

Put the brain power of SWC together and imagine the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq. Imagine it forced by the election of 2008. What happens to us (the US Military) when we quit?

A major black eye for the Army and Marines, humiliatingly abandonded by the country we defend. I heard today on the news a unique statement. The Congress was debating the war talking to a General, stating that while they (congress) support the troops, they are disgusted by the constant statements by military officers claiming increased progress levels in Iraq, they no longer "trust" the Generals to give candid assesments. But they reiterate they support the troops. --Ok, I are confused. They say the US Military is one of the most respected professions in America, they profess support, they express undieing devotion AND yet they don't trust us, or our leaders (reminds me of a pitbull in the closet). When they voted for the invasion of Iraq we went gladly. When they vote us out of Iraq we will leave sadly. When we went in we were invincible, superman. And now Iraq is our kryptonite--it is the stuff that weakens us from within.

Can we demonstrate in the next few months that we can do this, that 'winning iraq' can be done? (may just be a rhetorical question). WHat happens if we cannot convince the powers that be that the war and the sacrifice can be won? What happens next after we withdraw?
My opinion is that if Iraq turns out badly, we will not see a repeat of the post Vietnam experience where the military was "blamed." I think the majority of Americans recognize that the mistakes that were made were at the policy and strategy level. I think there will be some attempts to blame the military on the part of administration loyalist. I began to hear that from Feith a few year s ago. But I don't think most Americans will buy it.