Top Democrat urges Iraq pullout now

An influential Democratic congressman - who voted for the Iraq invasion in 2003 - has called for the immediate withdrawal of US forces from Iraq. John Murtha - a decorated Vietnam War veteran - said US troops had become "a catalyst for violence" in Iraq.





His comments followed attacks from the Bush administration on critics of its Iraq war policy and its handling of intelligence to invade Iraq.

Vice-President Dick Cheney said critics were spreading "cynical falsehoods".

"Our troops have become the primary target of the insurgency, they are united against US forces, and we have become a catalyst for violence," Mr Murtha said at an emotional news conference in Washington.

"US troops are the common enemy of the Sunnis, the Saddamists, and the foreign jihadists... I believe we need to turn Iraq over to the Iraqis," he said.

Mr Murtha - who is a member of a key House of Representatives panel that oversees defence spending - urged the White House to "immediately redeploy US troops consistent with the safety of US forces".

The congressman from Pennsylvania also said a "quick reaction force" should be created in the Middle East.

Source : BBC

Now those of you that come across this site from time to time will probably assume that i would be keen on the getting the troops out of Iraq .

My view is actually not that simple . I do feel that to carry on as we are will be a disater for the Iraqi people . but I also feel that to just remove the troops would also be a disaster for the people of Iraq

Some kind of peace keeping force needs to be in place to help the Iraqi people climb out of this mess . The problem i see is that the two best options for peace keeping would be blocked by the US government

My first choice would be a UN Peace keeping force made up purely of Muslims but the US would never allow the UN to take over , for this would be a clear sign of failure (which it has been but they would not want to admit it )

My second choice would be a peace keeping force made up from the neighbours of Iraq , But this would also never be allowed by the US . Syria and Iran "we keep being told" are also the enemy here and asking them for help would not even enter the US mindset

So I cant see what solution can be found . Iraq can not "stand up" without help and Iraq can not "stand up" whilst western forces are in the country

A lose-lose situation