U.S. troops in Iraq overwhelmingly support withdrawal

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WASHINGTON - Nearly three out of four American troops serving in Iraq think U.S. forces should withdraw within a year, and more than one in four say the United States should leave immediately, according to a new poll published Tuesday.

The poll, conducted by Zogby International and the Center for Peace and Global Studies at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, N.Y., was a rare effort to determine the views of American troops serving in a ground war.

Twenty-nine percent of the troops surveyed said U.S. forces should leave Iraq immediately, another 22 percent said they should leave within the next six months and 21 percent said within six to 12 months. Twenty-three percent agreed with President Bush's call for troops to stay "as long as they are needed" and 5 percent were unsure.

David Segal, a military sociologist at the University of Maryland, said that while most service members were more conservative than society as a whole, it wasn't surprising to see them reflect attitudes similar to civilians, who increasingly oppose the war.

Those views aren't necessarily an indication that troops are losing faith in the war, Segal said.

"One could argue that troops are saying, `Hey, we've accomplished a great deal. It's time to get out,' which is what you hear a lot of people in Washington saying," he said.

According to Zogby International, the survey consisted of 944 military respondents who were interviewed face to face at several locations throughout Iraq from Jan. 18 through Feb. 14. The names of those interviewed and where they were interviewed weren't disclosed. The margin of error was plus or minus 3.3 percentage points.

The survey was conducted without the Pentagon's permission, and some military officials privately questioned its validity, since troops in a combat zone are likely to express negative views of their situation.

"The poll's findings certainly aren't reflective of the attitudes we see displayed by the majority of troops, who are performing in a remarkable manner in a combat situation far from home," said Lt. Col. Barry Venable, a Pentagon spokesman.

American soldiers in Iraq, in interviews with Knight Ridder, frequently have expressed discontent with the situation there. They've cited too few soldiers to control the insurgency, a lack of equipment and pessimism about the success of the mission.

Other main findings from the survey:

_85 percent of those surveyed believed that the war was "to retaliate for Saddam's role in the 9-11 attacks," although the 9-11 commission in 2004 found "no credible evidence" that Iraq had cooperated with al-Qaida in the attacks.

_68 percent believed that the real reason for the war was to remove Saddam Hussein from power.

_58 percent said the current mission was clear, and 42 percent said it was unclear.

_About 2 in 5 saw the Iraqi insurgency as mostly homegrown, with very little foreign involvement.

_53 percent said the United States should double the number of troops and bombing missions to control the insurgency.

_55 percent opposed using harsh interrogation methods on prisoners.
_43 percent said their armor and equipment were adequate.

While 89 percent of Army reservists and 82 percent of National Guardsmen said the United States should leave Iraq within a year, 70 percent of regular Army troops thought that American forces should withdraw within that time frame.

Of regular soldiers who said that, nearly 28 percent thought American forces should leave immediately.

A little more than 25 percent of regular Army troops said U.S. forces should stay as long as necessary.

Forty-nine percent of Marines said the United States should leave Iraq within 12 months. More than 37 percent said U.S. forces should stay as long as they're needed. Only 9 percent of Marines thought there should be an immediate pullout.
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http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/13984338.htm
 
Why are such an overwhelming number of troops wanting to come home? They're building schools. They're drilling wells. They're throwing candy to the children. The liberal media is painting a picture of civil war, chaos, a rise in terrorism, a hatred of american troops among all iraqis, and high number of casualties, none of which is actually going on. It's "mission accomplished" overthere! We've seen "the last throes of the insurgency"!
 
What, do people think that "stay the course" isn't a sound strategy?

Oh, for shame, soldiers! Don't you know you're emboldening the terrorists, who are, judging by the massacres, in their last throes?
 
Reminds me of something Colbert said yesterday.

"...an acton that could well foment a civil war... If we're lucky. Because if theres truly a civil war in Iraq, by definition, we can't be part of it. Thats called an exit strategy, folks."
 
You're going to be hard pressed to find any majority of soldiers in any war, at any time for any reason that wouldn't prefer to be home.

In fact I dare say that no soldier would rather be engaged in combat operations in a foreign country than at home.

Poll = DUH!
 
[quote name='PittsburghAfterDark']You're going to be hard pressed to find any majority of soldiers in any war, at any time for any reason that wouldn't prefer to be home.

In fact I dare say that no soldier would rather be engaged in combat operations in a foreign country than at home.

Poll = DUH![/quote]

But are they traitors too, for saying that they'd rather be at home?

Are the troops, according to coulterian logic, by voting this way not supporting themselves?

My head hurts.
 
I can tell you from my mandatory 2 years in the IDF that there's no way in hell I'd rather even be in the army than medical school. However with mandatory conscription what can you do? Military life is hard enough as it is.

Of course though the Cheetos chomping, Pepsi swilling, pasty faced terrorist sympathizing liberals here know nothing about service or sacrifice. Oh, except ISP service and sacrificing a girlfriend (Like people like AM23 could get laid without a credit card or wad of dollars... maybe he swaps his food stamps for sex.) so they can argue about how superior they are.

Yeah, pittsburg is right, no soldier ever wants to be away from home for months or years at a time. It's just not natural.
 
[quote name='PittsburghAfterDark']You're going to be hard pressed to find any majority of soldiers in any war, at any time for any reason that wouldn't prefer to be home.

In fact I dare say that no soldier would rather be engaged in combat operations in a foreign country than at home.

Poll = DUH![/QUOTE]

what a dodge. Didn't know fat guys could move that fast. The poll wasn't "would you rather be home". It was specifically about attitudes towards the Iraq War.

and according to the is poll, Three dollar, you going to have to include soliders in that group as well.

by the way..."Oh, except ISP service and sacrificing a girlfriend"= weak.
 
[quote name='Three Dollar Hooker']Of course though the Cheetos chomping, Pepsi swilling, pasty faced terrorist sympathizing liberals here know nothing about service or sacrifice. Oh, except ISP service and sacrificing a girlfriend (Like people like AM23 could get laid without a credit card or wad of dollars... maybe he swaps his food stamps for sex.) so they can argue about how superior they are.[/QUOTE]

Hmmmmm....are you talking about military service like that performed by most of the conservative commentators and bloggers who egged the U.S. on for the war in Iraq? Oh wait, that can't be right, because most of them had "other priorities" (thanks, Cheney!) and never served at all.

Or is it military service like that performed by Kerry, Murtha, Gore, Cleland and other Democrats....no, wait, those are people who served honorably but had their military service slimed by conservatives for not having the proper political views.

Before conservatives try to take the high road on military service, perhaps they should first figure out for themselves whether those who have served deserve respect. Because all I see right now from folks like yourself, hooker, is a lot of despicable hypocrisy.
 
I was wondering, I oppose the war in Iraq, think resistance (not terrorism) is legitimate in an occupation, and oppose withdrawal until Iraq is stable (however long it takes, or until I think I presence makes it impossible). So what now? I want the troops to stay there, so do I support the troops? But, then again, I oppose what they want, and don't think the u.s. military is doing a good job, so do I oppose them?

[quote name='PittsburghAfterDark']You're going to be hard pressed to find any majority of soldiers in any war, at any time for any reason that wouldn't prefer to be home.

In fact I dare say that no soldier would rather be engaged in combat operations in a foreign country than at home.

Poll = DUH![/quote]

They didn't ask what they'd rather do, but what should be done. Also, if your point was valid, then most would want an immediate withrawal, and more than the just slightly above 50% would want to pullout within 6 months.

Only the 28 who want immediate withdrawal even makes sense with your argument.
 
[quote name='dennis_t']Because all I see right now from folks like yourself, hooker, is a lot of despicable hypocrisy.[/quote]

Maybe dennis, as usual, you're slow on the uptake.

He wasn't referring to any politician. He was talking about scum like you, EZB, AM23, mykey and the other sit at home professional message board whiners. Of course though that fact is completely lost on your hollow mind that is so used to defending your cesspool of a political party as opposed to a direct insult questioning your manhood or stunning lack therof.

You'll also notice he stated he did two years of compulsory service in the IDF. Since, again, you're too dim witted to know what that is and too ignorant to understand how representative republics defend themselves I'll help you out of your intellectual vacuum. The IDF? That's the Israeli Defence Force. Or for those of you on the vs. Board, Israel's army. Seems our resident Jew is not a citizen of the U.S. but an alien here on student visa.

Of course though you'd really have to read and discern that from his post and, as you prove countless times dennis, you're really, really bad at reading comprehension.
 
[quote name='alonzomourning23']I was wondering, I oppose the war in Iraq, think resistance (not terrorism) is legitimate in an occupation, and oppose withdrawal until Iraq is stable (however long it takes, or until I think I presence makes it impossible). So what now? I want the troops to stay there, so do I support the troops? But, then again, I oppose what they want, and don't think the u.s. military is doing a good job, so do I oppose them?
[/QUOTE]

You think resistance is legitimate in an occupation? So, you think the French should have been lobbing hand grenades at US forces in europe when we were occupying it after kicking the germans out ? You should maybe rephrase your belief.

I'm curious, what do you think the troops want and why are you opposed to it ? Isn't their mission to keep the peace and kill the terrorists that want to murder free Iraqis? You're opposed to that ? I'll agree that the US hasn't done everything as well as they should have, but should we just leave and let the Sunnis be slaughtered and let the Kurds control all the oil? It seems, to me, that everyone's getting a sweet deal by forming a coalition government yet no one seems to be happy unless they get it all, kill someone to get it all, or declare jihad until they get it all. Sounds just like the palestinian mentality, doesn't it ?

And by the numbers, the so-called Iraqi "resistance" is predominantly a terror program aimed at shea muslims, not US soldiers, in an effort to restore the former caste system enjoyed by them under Saddam.
 
[quote name='PittsburghAfterDark']Maybe dennis, as usual, you're slow on the uptake.

He wasn't referring to any politician. He was talking about scum like you, EZB, AM23, mykey and the other sit at home professional message board whiners. Of course though that fact is completely lost on your hollow mind that is so used to defending your cesspool of a political party as opposed to a direct insult questioning your manhood or stunning lack therof.

You'll also notice he stated he did two years of compulsory service in the IDF. Since, again, you're too dim witted to know what that is and too ignorant to understand how representative republics defend themselves I'll help you out of your intellectual vacuum. The IDF? That's the Israeli Defence Force. Or for those of you on the vs. Board, Israel's army. Seems our resident Jew is not a citizen of the U.S. but an alien here on student visa.

Of course though you'd really have to read and discern that from his post and, as you prove countless times dennis, you're really, really bad at reading comprehension.[/quote]

Funny, the only way Israeli's can be here is on a student visa? Nowhere does he say how long here's been here, why he's here etc.

Besides, to him I'm not scum, I'm anti-semitic scum.
 
[quote name='bmulligan']You think resistance is legitimate in an occupation? So, you think the French should have been lobbing hand grenades at US forces in europe when we were occupying it after kicking the germans out ? You should maybe rephrase your belief. [/quote]

It may technically be an occupation, but the remnants of the french military were on our side, and the allied forces kicked out the genuine occupation of the nazi's. Now, for example, if there was part of france that had revolted against france or was fighting for independence, before nazi's invaded, then maybe you would consider that a genuine occupation.

The definition of occupation could encompass a lot of situations. But just as they have a right to rebel, they should expect a response. That's the case even if I wouldn't consider the power legitimate, such as colonial powers.

If you're taking "they have a right" as meaning "they are right" then you misunderstood.



I'm curious, what do you think the troops want and why are you opposed to it ?
Click to expand...

The poll indicates the overwhelming majority want withdrawal in a year, with only about a quarter wanting to stay as long as necessary. I agree with the quarter.
 
Some people were saying that wasn't what the question asked, but I looked up and down the article and it never said what question was asked. So until one of these fellows can pump out a source as to what the question actually was, all we can assume is "Would you like to leave Iraq this year?" Which I would expect an emphatic yes from.
 
[quote name='PittsburghAfterDark']He wasn't referring to any politician. He was talking about scum like you, EZB, AM23, mykey and the other sit at home professional message board whiners. Of course though that fact is completely lost on your hollow mind that is so used to defending your cesspool of a political party as opposed to a direct insult questioning your manhood or stunning lack therof.

You'll also notice he stated he did two years of compulsory service in the IDF. Since, again, you're too dim witted to know what that is and too ignorant to understand how representative republics defend themselves I'll help you out of your intellectual vacuum. The IDF? That's the Israeli Defence Force. Or for those of you on the vs. Board, Israel's army. Seems our resident Jew is not a citizen of the U.S. but an alien here on student visa.

Of course though you'd really have to read and discern that from his post and, as you prove countless times dennis, you're really, really bad at reading comprehension.[/QUOTE]

Perhaps you should remove the beam from thine own eye, PAD, when it comes to reading comprehension.

My first point was that most online pro-war supporters also lack the military service that hooker holds in such high esteem. Therefore, not only are they reluctant to put their lives on the line, but they also have no problem throwing other people into the line of fire -- a position I find much more contemptible than that of people who haven't served and who urge caution in the use of our military troops.

My second point was that these brave, brave right-wing bloggers then go on to slime Democrats who have served in the military because these men have the wrong political opinions, thus compounding their contemptible behavior with outright hypocrisy.

You know from my posts here that I have nothing but respect for those who have served in the military. I said nothing to mock hooker's service, as I have never said anything to mock your own. But I believe we should think carefully before using up those young people brave enough to put themselves on the line for us.

I will close by noting that insults do not an argument make, PAD. "Scum?" "Dim-witted?" "Cesspool?" "Hollow mind?" Is that what passes for political debate with you? Because, if no one has told you, all these insults do is make you look like a petulant kid. Let's raise the level of political discourse here, please, if for no other reason that to increase the persuasiveness of your own arguments.
 
Dennis, I'm not hear to score debating points. I'm not here to persuade you of anything.

You can't tell the mentally ill they're ill. They'll never believe you. So you see dennis, you're not mentally ill... it's just the rest of us that are. Now put on this jacket and take these pills so you'll be protected from the rest of us.
 
[quote name='PittsburghAfterDark']Dennis, I'm not hear to score debating points. I'm not here to persuade you of anything.

You can't tell the mentally ill they're ill. They'll never believe you. So you see dennis, you're not mentally ill... it's just the rest of us that are. Now put on this jacket and take these pills so you'll be protected from the rest of us.[/QUOTE]

Again, you name-call without actually addressing the points made.....

And if you aren't here to debate or persuade, PAD, why exactly are you here? Just to provoke, or annoy, or disparage? Is that really the most you can hope for in your life?
 
Actually it's like a field trip for me dennis.

I get to come see all the kooks in one place. I can point and laugh at them or pound on the glass, as it were, to make them crazy, spook them and watch them flail about in the confines of their captivity.

It truly is for my own amusement that I come and laugh at the likes of you.

I'm sure though that you have a far more noble purpose of visiting online message boards such as this. I'm next to certain you're putting together a doctoral dissortation of some sort or another and this is merely the forum in which you are pusuing your academic and world changing work.
 
Ahh, so you finally admit you're nothing but a troll, its about time.

I mean, its not as though we didn't already know, but you just had to come out and say it for us, for yourself. Admitting the problem is the first step towards recovery.
 
I fail to see mention of any kind of admission.

I will agree that trying to engage in any kind of debate here with the intolerent left here is fruitless.

You have members that relish their sensitivity in the face of people that would murder them, destroy their country and the countries of their allies. You have people that can do nothing all day and every day but criticize a leader. You have people that are completely incoherent to the nth degree and offer nothing but 1-4 sentence flames and personal attacks without ever engaging in any meaningful discussion.

Oh Metal Boss? You fit the last one.

You offer absolutely nothing. You're so inept you can't even bring news or topics of discussion to this board.

We await, with baited breath, your 1-4 senetence flame bait response of the valid criticism leveled against you.
 
03-02-2006.gif
 
[quote name='PittsburghAfterDark']Actually it's like a field trip for me dennis.

I get to come see all the kooks in one place. I can point and laugh at them or pound on the glass, as it were, to make them crazy, spook them and watch them flail about in the confines of their captivity.

It truly is for my own amusement that I come and laugh at the likes of you.

I'm sure though that you have a far more noble purpose of visiting online message boards such as this. I'm next to certain you're putting together a doctoral dissortation of some sort or another and this is merely the forum in which you are pusuing your academic and world changing work.[/QUOTE]

Hmmmm....interesting.

So everyone who disagrees with your world view is a kook, even if the facts support their side of a particular argument?

And what, exactly, are the "likes of me"? Please elucidate.
 
[quote name='Three Dollar Hooker']We await, with baited breath, your 1-4 senetence flame bait response of the valid criticism leveled against you.[/QUOTE]

I await, with bated breath, your response to the points I made earlier.

If you want to engage in an honest debate, do so and stop with the name-calling, hooker.
 
[quote name='dennis_t']I await, with bated breath, your response to the points I made earlier.

If you want to engage in an honest debate, do so and stop with the name-calling, hooker.[/quote]

If you expect that, you're kidding yourself, we'll most likely be called "LefTiSt TaRd IdIotZ!" for the 1000th time, whether or not we are democrats. But, its a simple way for them too pull out the ineffective john kerry insults.


But, we've set ourselves up for more inane derogatory comebacks by our mere presence so, grab some popcorn and enjoy the show.
 
[quote name='Metal Boss']Ahh, so you finally admit you're nothing but a troll, its about time.[/quote]


Kettle = Metal Boss = Black
 
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