Im Shocked... (Score 1)

at how intelligent most people are here, but yet they have no understanding (or are willing ignorant) of the goals that outline our success in Iraq. Please take a few minutes of your time, for your own good, and watch General Petraeus' report to the Armed Services Committee. You can find it on youtube. No other individual knows more about the situation in Iraq than him. If you haven't listened to him, then wouldn't it be impossible to form an honest opinion of the definition of success over there. You will probably remember how Obama was 100% anti-Iraq war, and refused for 2 years to meet with General Petraeus. Guess what happened when he actually sat down with him to try and understand the situation? Obama changed his viewpoint. Now Obama wants a time line instead of an instant evac. Everyone knows the media is all about reporting tragedy and horror stories, that's how they survive. But you will never fully understand anything if you rely on only them. There are hundreds of questions regarding our entry into Iraq. Even Afghanistan. But we are there now. We have helped the Iraq governments to combine, form a centralized constitution, and begin to build up an organized military to defend themselves from the extremists. This isn't an easy task. The new government has been using their oil profits to hire thousands of individuals, including the "sons of Iraq", to provide military and police support. They are beginning to use more of their oil revenue as their structure allows. It would only make since to stick around till they can hold their own. This means that until their new military (which by the way is now leading many of the counter insurgencies) is able to stand up to the extremists, we need to assist them till they are strong enough. This also includes the pressure from Iran. If we pull out now, we can be fairly confident that everything we have done will fall on it's face. Not even Obama is proposing that. Yes, we do have our own problems here at home. But those problems don't hold a candle to those in Iraq. After all, we are looking at a computer screen right now aren't we? How many Iraqis can say that? Be fortunate that we live in a country that cares this much about the world we live in, that it will risk the lives and money it takes to help a country less fortunate. Did you know that the U.S gives more in foreign aid than the next top 8 countries combined? We can afford to help, and we are. So the point i'm trying to make here is that before you criticize our current situation in Iraq, give a fair effort in examining both sides and be diplomatic about your conclusion, for the sake of everyone.