[aharris]

Mike and Chopper

I think that the soldiers are doing the best job they can. I appreciate that they are willing to do the hard stuff for me. If the troops were pulled out tomorrow, God knows what would happen. I'm sure there would be chaos in Iraq.

Chopper, you are right. The 3000 are part of the equation too. I apologise for not including that number.

But put youself in the average Iraqi's place. You have an occupying foreign force in your country that has been ineffective in reducing the violence (more than 26,000 civilian deaths in the past year) or significantly improving my way of life. I'm sure I would be saying thanks very much but please leave.

Mike, you are making the assumption that the lack of incident on US soil is due to the occupation of Iraq. Perhaps it is due to the increased security at borders, or the increased focus by police forces on discovering "terrorist" cells in other countries. I'm hard pressed to see how having troops remain in Iraq maintains security back home.

Perhaps there have been no new attacks because the "terrorists" are satisfied with the effect they have had on the West. Higher prices, increased restrictions on travel, increased government powers, more isolationist policies.

You can't believe that "questioning policy" automatically equates with an attack on the brave men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Andrew