Your e-mails: What the U.S. should do in Iraq
We asked CNN.com readers what course of action they would recommend to President Bush. Here is a selection of responses, some of which have been edited.
I think the only reasonable course would be to try and convene a summit of the major Arab states in the region, admit our policies have failed, and seek their guidance in terms of creating some kind of a viable, provisional body we could turn over control to. As long as we continue to occupy Iraq, there will be nothing resembling peace there. I think that's the only way to salvage what little bit of respect we may still have in that region. Sometimes it takes a bigger man to admit a mistake than it does to stubbornly plow along pursuing a failed campaign.
Ralph Via, Camden, Ohio
I believe we should try to stand up the Iraq government as soon as possible, and I think we should set a time certain we will start withdrawal. We should re-deploy our troops to surrounding countries and help with air support etc. No permanent bases, and no troops after two years.
Adam Leintz, Bismark, North Dakota
We should stay and provide support as long as the Iraqis sincerely try to defeat the extremists. Look at the positive change in Iraq. We helped overthrow a brutal regime. We helped the Iraqi people establish their own elected government - and their voter turnout should put us to shame. We did not underestimate the resiliency of the insurgency as our grotesquely liberal media suggests. We under-estimated what hate-filled, brutal cowards these Islamic fundamentalists can be. If we do not stand united in the face of these terrorists where will we be? This IS NOT about winning a war in Iraq - this is about the future of the free world. I believe the majority of Iraqis want to be part of that free world.
C. Baker, Charlotte, North Carolina
It's a losing battle trying to use the military's tanks and bombers to fight what amounts to a police action against thugs and murders in a concentrated civilian population. To stop wasting our troops, use them in a military way by declaring marital law, imposing nighttime curfews and confiscating all guns and explosives in the civilian population. Also oversee an imposed democratic government that does not include high ranking religious followers with an ax to grind. Next, speed up the improving of the infrastructure, especially electricity and water, by asking for the help of other nations. Finally; start pulling out our troops as things hopefully begin cooling down.
Guy Norris, Lancaster, Ohio
We should try to get other Arab nations involved in the future of Iraq and we should withdraw, not cut and run as the President sees it but a wise decision to leave the Middle East nations to handle Iraq instead of us Westerners. As a Vietnam veteran, I learned that you cannot win in a situation where the populace is not with you. The Iraqi people are not interested in democracy. We are not welcome and never were and we cannot win, whatever that means now, against a religious oriented enemy.
Tom Kaiser, Milton, Florida
Learn from the lessons of the past; specifically, Vietnam. Admit our government made mistakes, quit meddling in other countries problems, and go home, before we lose another 3,000 soldiers. If President Bush has to be a hero to someone, then go find Osama [bin Laden], who started this whole mess in the first place.
Steve Stientjes, Loveland, Colorado
U.S. Major General JD Thurman summed up the whole problem in Iraq when he said that the US is more firmly committed to the mission in Iraq than the individual Iraqi citizen. The comments of General Thurman reflect our flawed conceptual framework for democracy in Iraq. Iraqi's trust their individual clans and not the national government. No amount of appealing, threatening or cajoling will change that. I fear that the fallout from this escapade has yet to reach its crescendo.
Michael Devaney, Little Neck, New York
We need to finish the job. I have a grandson that is in the Army and I know that he will be in harm's way, but we need to accomplish what we set out to do. If we cut and run now, we will pay a high price later.
Jo Wishert, Rock Hill, South Carolina
In all seriousness; cut and run. In war, there are times when that is the best strategy. Save your resources to fight another day and in a better way--with a better strategy to fight terrorists and defend ourselves in our own country. After all, could there be a worse strategy that what we've attempted?
Bob Wilkins, Center, Texas
One thing that can be done is to lift the morale of the United States. I have a son in the Army, who has done a tour in Afghanistan. President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney could have their own children enlist in the military and serve their country as our family has done. It might change their perspective on things a bit!
Steven Terry, Norman, Oklahoma
I feel our best hope is a regional dialogue with ALL nations of the Middle East with a vested interest in a stable Iraq. This includes Syria and Iran. Simultaneously with this Diplomatic effort we should re-deploy 100k of our troops into Afghanistan and build a road from Kabul to Islamabad. The Creation of this road will spur economic growth and spread the best of American ideals by sheer power of economic stability and it will also re-focus the effort on the true engine of terrorism -- poverty.
David Hasslinger, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
I wish we had never gone to war in Iraq, but now that we have, we must train the Iraqi's police and army as quickly as possible so that more of our troops can come home. But we MUST not leave the country until we have helped them establish a peaceful solution.
Judy Gjersoe, Libertyville, Illinois
I think the arms, bombs, and most of the guerilla terrorists are coming across the border to Iraq from both Syria and Iran. To stop the violence in Iraq, the U.S. and Iraqi governments must seal the border of Iraq on all sides and prevent any further infiltration of these supplies. I know that is easy to say and hard to do. But, otherwise, the flow will never stop.
David Baer, Delton, Michigan
As unpopular as this may be in the current climate; we need to send one big LAST wave of soldiers to Iraq, in an attempt to quash these insurgents. But only for one tour of duty. We then begin to withdraw our troops permanently. The Iraqi security forces will NOT stand-up if we are still there, regardless of how violent the militias are. Its a sink or swim mentality. We have to leave before they will stand up. If we are able to push back the violence just enough to give time to withdraw, the Iraqis just might take over. This is their country, they need to learn how to govern it and protect it
Jeff Van Duyne, New Haven, Connecticut
We should start to schedule U.S. troop withdrawals and have UN peacemakers gradually replace our troops. Perhaps with less of a US presence some sort of workable peace can start to take place. Even then, a civil war is probably going to happen anyway but at least with less of a U.S. presence in Iraq, things might quiet down enough for the UN to help Iraq heal.
Jeffrey Kress, Old Bridge, New Jersey
The recommendations I would make to President Bush would be three-fold: First -- Divide Iraq into provinces based on religious or cultural divisions, but at least creating Kurdish, Sunni, and Shia provinces. Then provide security forces for each province made up of individuals from that province, living in that province. Second -- Remove most conventional U.S. military and contractors that are providing Islamic extremists with highly lucrative targets. Allow US Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and PSYOP units to continue to provide security, training, and government services. Third - Allow Iraqis to create their own government, even if it is religious based, and stop trying to ensure American corporate access to Iraqi oil fields.
William Bailey, Accokeek, Maryland
What happened to the coalition? Where are all the other international forces and why does it seem we are we going it alone? I haven't heard much about other nations supporting the efforts with financing, troops, etc. Can we not put more pressure on them to bear some of this burden as well as add some perspective on possible resolutions?
Brandon Bates, Havertown, Pennsylvania
Source: www.read1stnews.com
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