Why The Hell Haven't We Withdrawn From Iraq?

The answer, like it or not, is simply that Bush doesn't want to.

The situation in Iraq was already a hot issue with regard to the 2004 presidential election, but the call of American citizens for the US to begin withdrawing troops has grown all-the-more since then:

"Nearly six in 10 Americans say the United States should withdraw some or all of its troops from Iraq, a new Gallup Poll finds, the most downbeat view of the war since it began in 2003." June 2005

"A majority of 52% of the poll's respondents — including nearly 1 in 3 Republicans — said they preferred a fixed timetable for withdrawal;" December 2006

"...roughly 6 in 10 Americans favor setting a firm timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq;" May 2007

Likewise, one would be hard pressed to find a retired military officer who does not favor withdrawing American forces from Iraq. They've formed their own organization to support troop withdrawal, amongst other things, for crying out loud! There's obviously a major problem when generals leave the army in protest. Scroll through the board and advisors of VoteVets and look at the faces of the men who have served in Iraq or elsewhere who made it back and are speaking out now.

"An overwhelming majority of 72% of American troops serving in Iraq think the U.S. should exit the country within the next year, and more than one in four say the troops should leave immediately..." February 2006

Even more convincing should be the opinion of the Iraqis, who have wanted US-led forces gone since early 2004 - fully acknowledging the chance of increased violence. Their desire for withdrawal has grown increasingly:

"Only a third of the Iraqi people now believe that the American-led occupation of their country is doing more good than harm, and a solid majority support an immediate military pullout even though they fear that could put them in greater danger..." April 2004

"An internal U.S. government poll found a majority of Iraqis oppose having the U.S.-led multinational force in their country and feel less safe when foreign troops are patrolling their neighborhoods." July 2005

"Forty-five per cent of Iraqis believe attacks against British and American troops are justified - rising to 65 per cent in the British-controlled Maysan province;" "82 per cent are 'strongly opposed' to the presence of coalition troops;" October 2005

"...a majority of Iraqis believe the security situation in Iraq will get better when the 'multi national forces' leave Iraq, with 53 percent saying it will be 'a great deal better' or 'a little better' as opposed to 26% who say it will be 'a great deal worse' or 'a little worse.'" March 2007

"A large majority of Iraqis—71%—say they would like the Iraqi government to ask for U.S.-led forces to be withdrawn from Iraq within a year or less." May 2007

"...without note in the U.S. media, more than half of the members of Iraq's parliament rejected the continuing occupation of their country. 144 lawmakers signed onto a legislative petition calling on the United States to set a timetable for withdrawal..." May 2007

Britain, the United States' primary ally in Iraq, announced in February that they will have half of their force out of Iraq by the end of 2007.

Is any of this sinking into the empty heads over at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.? How about the 28% out there who still, somehow, support the President?

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