Honestly, how long will the Iraq occupation last?

[Nutmegger]

Poll question: Honestly, how long will the Iraq occupation last?

3-5 years gets my vote, sadly.

[IsItJustMe]

1. The world situation is to dynamic to honestly tell. Everything is in flux

What we think today can be old news by tomorrow. A even more serious war could break out somewhere totally unexpected which could force us to withdrawal from Iraq quickly. My guess is it probably evolve right there in the area however.

We almost need to expect the unexpected.

[Tom Joad]

2. Until we rise up and do something about it. Don't wait for the politicians

[AndyTiedye]

4. You Know That Will Never Happen

[Tom Joad]

6. will it happen with you?

[TreasonousBastard]

3. Other-- until either the...

President-like object gets his ass handed to him or everyone just gets so sick of the mess we just say the hell with it and leave.

Could be by the end of the year, or after the new President takes over. Or after a new Congress next year.

Or, maybe never. Ain't easy to stop a war once it's started.

[PBass]

5. My 2 cents...

Bush plans to pull about 10 to 20 percent of troops this Fall, so that the headlines will talk about how "They're Coming Home" in time for the mid-term elections. After that, token amounts of troop reductions.

Then about 20 or 30 percent more will be pulled in the months before the 2008 presidential election. The GOP will try to make a big deal about it during the GOP convention (declare "Mission Accomplished" all over again, talk about how "They Said It Couldn't Be Done" and crap like that).

Not an expert, just my amateur opinion.

[AndyTiedye]

8. Why Expect Them To Tell The Truth About How Many Troops Are There?

They can just SAY they are withdrawing troops, and show photos of troops coming home
(there are always SOME troops coming home), and conceal the fact that they are sending
in as many as they bring home, or more.

They lie about everything else.

[quinnox]

7. I chose 3-5

After the new president comes in 2009 then they will withdraw just about all of them later that year in sequential steps.

[Nutmegger]

9. KICK after Bush's sad babbling today. []nt]

[Rainscents]

10. I think this war will last until we are completely broke.

[sandnsea]

11. Until we get a President to end it n/t

[LynnTheDem]

12. "It could take 10 years for Iraq to become stable" -Jack Straw

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/iraq/story/0,12956,1591292,00.html

RICE: "I think it's entirely possible that it can be a stable democracy within, within several years..."
http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2005/55425.htm