STORM2K

If I'm reading/hearing the news correctly, the governing council wants the US military out of Iraq pronto and Mr Bremer seems to be rushing in the handing over the reins of power to them. Where does this leave our military? Will this mean the majority of our troops will be coming home soon? What will happen to the 87B dollars that was just earmarked for Iraq if we turn control over to them this soon?

they wont be leaving. if they did, it would be a bloodbath in iraq. the 300 thousand found in mass graves would be like childs play. if we cut and run now, we will be defeated by terrorism. we should give iraqis power, but only when they can protect themselves.

They need to speed up the transition, but I agree with Helen's assessment. I think it could even be possible that if we got out now, then Saddam may even be able to get back into power. The Iraqi people are that helpless right now.

This may be MUCH more difficult than imagined.

Iraq, like so many of the Middle Eastern countries, was "drawn up" by the British without regard for ethnic or religious attachments; Iraq alone has Sunnis, Shi'ites, Assyrian Christians and some Jews...not to mention the ethnic burden of having Turkmen, Kurds, Arabs and Parsis living in unnaturally close proximity, and all of them are antagonistic to one another.

If they ever get a Constitution drawn up, it wil be a miracle.