So what is everyone thinking about Iraq now? v112 people died today (11/20)

[Thorgrim]

112 die in Iraq as bloodbath continues - Yahoo! News

I think everyone kind of assumed the elections were going to send such a tidal wave either way (if the GOP won, that meant occupation forever, if the Dems won, that meant a different strategy that would cut down on deaths)

However, like I've said before, the Iraqi civil war has taken on a life of its own, and is disregarding any outside political events

As you look at Iraq...tired from the elections, and tired from hearing about it for 3 years...what do you think when you hear "4 US soldiers killed today, over 100 Iraqi civilians killed"

Khalilzad and some senior Bush officials said about 6 months ago that the Maliki government had 3-6 months that were critical, and would determine what the rest of recent iraqi events would look like:

Iraq's new government has three to six months to bring more stability to the country, or it could collapse, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq said Wednesday.
USATODAY.com - Time is short for Iraq to stabilize, U.S. envoy warns

So apparently we have 11 days, and although people have been ignoring it, things have gotten worse since the election (you can't blame lame duck republicans or Senator-Elects who aren't serving...but you can blame Bush)

We are getting back to the average monthly death totals that add up to 1200 US soldiers killed every year and 36,000-72,000 Iraqis being violently executed (and usually tortured) every year.

So, generally, what are your thoughts...do we give it another 6 months...if so another, and another? 3 years, 6 years, a decade?

This isn't "what should the Democrats/Bush do" this is, what do YOU think should be done?

[thatguyoverthere]

Crickets from the war supporters, huh?

Where are all those that predicted that when the Democrats were elected, it would suddenly be a flood of good news from Iraq? Probably in the shower trying to wash off the stench of the bullshit, I suppose.

As for me, I would be handing out plane tickets to innocent Iraqi civilians or inviting them into our huge bases (I would have been building mini-cities) with no weapons allowed. Let's get the innocent Iraqis out of there. Yeah, it would be a huge influx of Iraqi immigrants, but we deserve them. We broke their country, it's the least we could do to try and protect their lives now. Then, we leave the place, come home, and work on alternative energy. Let's not use a drop of oil, and leave all those motherfuckers alone over there. We've done enough damage. For the money we've spent and are spending every day, we could have bought Iraq.

From what I've been reading, I wouldn't be suprised if there was a coup and/or total government collapse in Iraq any day, much less within the next 3 to 6 months.

[avsp]

There is no solution that will improve things in the short term for the citizens of Baghdad

'Good' solutions should aim to minimise the escalation of the conflict, especially expanding it geographically

Such solutions inevitably lead to the abandonment of any explict aim of increasing democracy in the region

Such solutions are also unlikely to increase the security of oil supplies to the 'west'

[SICKGUY]

i am proud to say that i never thought iraq was a smart move. it didnt make sense in the beginning, and it really doesnt make sense now.