If we could remove immediately from Iraq and Afghanistan?

Say we get a new president who makes us get out of Iraq and Afghanistan, immediately. However long it takes to make sure all the equipment comes with. Would there be any immediate consequences? How would the Iraqis take it? Do you think we would have fewer terrorist attacks or more? Would they attack us on our way out? How would or international piers view us? How about our allies?





This is hypothetical, just a survey of ideas, not a proclamation of beliefs or political stance.





I would especially appreciate the answers of Iraqi war veterans.

If we could remove immediately from Iraq and Afghanistan?
Just to clarify, there is no candidate who has proposed withdrawing from Afghanistan. The Democratic candidates, in fact, would like to focus more U.S. troops in that region.
Reply:What you want details....."Mr. Obama what do we do and what is your plan?"..........insert cricket noise here...or replay speech on you-tube.......
Reply:No candidate has proposed pulling out of Afghanistan.....thats where al queda is
Reply:No candidate has proposed removing troops from Afghanistan. No candidate has proposed withdrawing all of our troops out of Iraq without establishing a system of continued involvement with the Iraqi people to rebuild their infrastructure, help keep the peace, and provide humanitarian support for those in need. IF we were to simply pack up everybody, all the equipment and supplies, and say "see ya later, you're on your own", that would indeed create a very large mess.
Reply:So what you're asking is how would people feel if we were to take our big fat nose out of the business of others?





I think they would feel relieved!





We need to stop playing big brother to the world, and start focusing on the problems inside our borders.
Reply:I am an iraqi war vet. And finally someone asks the tough questions. I believe that yes there would be consequences. I think what would happen is this: There would be a new suddam, another terrorist leader would step up and take control and attack us. They would be right back where they were. Why waste everything we have done already. We are doing good. I've seen with my own eyes. The stupid news portrays it as horrible and that is not the truth!! If we just pull out I'm telling you there will be MAJOR consequences. I've said it all along. The reason we went there might be unclear, but we are there. And we are doing good things. We might not be the world's police but if we can help someone else why shouldn't we. We would want them to help us. Why should we desert them now. Let them get more securely on their feet then slowly back out. But not entirely. And not suddenly. Leave a base there. Post soldiers there. Do not let another Suddam step up and take control. I guarantee that if we all of a sudden up and leave they would come after us!
Reply:Think 1971
Reply:It would leave a vacuum of power- that would be pounced upon instantly by Iran, and Said Arabia- each claiming 'lost ' land from a weak Iraqi government.





As well as a collapse in the Maki government- witch would lead to a strongman taking over- and thus another Saddam.
Reply:No matter when we leave, no matter who we leave in charge, Iraq will eventually become a country like Iran. Consider what happened in Iran. We installed a puppet government under the Shah. Eventually he was overthrown and the former government reinstated. Thus, an Islamic state was reborn. The same will happen in Iraq.
Reply:We should not come out of Afghanistan.





9/11 Mass murderer Osama bin Laden is believed to be there. We should focus our attention there.





The Iraqis are just going to have to grow up in a hurry and deal with it when we leave. Most of the attacks in Iraq are from local separatists, not from Al Qaeda.
Reply:We would be under attack almost immediately.


The concept of leaving before finishing the job is why we are at war right now.


Our premature departure from either country would cause a power vacuum that our radical enemies will be ever so happy to fill.


Consider what the world would look like if (hypothetically) Iran was to move Hezbollah into power position in the middle east.
Reply:It's our presence there that's galvanizing the attacks, and it's popular resentment against the US that helps shield terrorist operations there from the authorities.





Iraq is going to be a hotbed of violence for decades to come; nothing can stop that now. It's an artificial country made up of different factions who have no intention of living together. Saddam kept them in line with fear; now they're going to, either violently or politically, work out a way to split Iraq. All we're doing there is creating a false stasis while prolonging anti-US terrorist activity.





When we leave, there will be a surge of home-grown political opportunism, followed by the quick ejection of Al-Qaeda, and then some kind of muted civil war that will end with the splitting of Iraq into three different parts. That will happen whenever we leave, whether we do it tomorrow or in fifty years. Staying only ensures more death and suffering in the interim.
Reply:things would be better now, than if we had pulled out last year or the year before, like a lot of people wanted. the iraqis are more able to stand on their own two feet. at least until Iran invades.


Iraqis haven't wanted us to pull out, they know that our presence there is there best bet for stability in the short term. i am sure that we will have some military presence there (like in Germany) for a long time.
Reply:Our country has spent incredibly large sums of money to help "stabilize" the country when in fact it was more stable and much less of a threat to anyone when Saddam was in power. We have been doing so and continue to spend money fruitlessly, while at the same time giving the new Iraqi harsh timetables for them to be self-reliant only to continue to grant them more time when they repeatedly cannot meet them.

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