What future Iraq? I want to say I thought the war could quickly bring some freedom to Iraq, I was wrong.
If the west left now would Iraq be better off?
Can we leave, just walk away and let the country fix its own problems?
I think the placement of a dictator is the way our involvement in Iraq will end.
And just maybe the refugees from that country in growing numbers will impact on the west far more than we think.
Is there a way out of Iraq?

This was canvassed pretty well in this discussion. Have a look and consider some of the outcomes discussed.

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=5373#67400

Thanks I just re read it it was full of hate and spite wasn't it?
So what will become of Iraq? no hamburger heaven thats for sure.
Badly planned and handled its a mess no freedom for Iraq and not yet a way out for America.
Australia will get the nod from that country that our troops are more needed in Afghanistan just before the federal election.
And most insurgents will follow America and maybe us.

I have read the discussions in the previous commentary on this subject and I wonder why no one has mentioned the bleeding obvious.

Someone will finally find that missing old oil lamp that has been tarnished by its time out in the desert.

He or she will rub the lamp and the proverbial genie will appear and offer to grant three wishes.

It's at this point that things no longer remain obvious.

The motivation, education, acculturation of the finder will determine how the rest of the world fares.

So if anyone out there finds the lamp I just have one request for your consideration - BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR!

It's as likely a scenario as anything our politicians and analysts are telling us!

The Yanks overran Saddam and there was great rejoicing. The people now had an opportunity to become democratic.

Then the sunnis started to blow things up, making the country unstable and thus keeping the Yanks there. The Sunnis knew that if the Yanks left, the shias would wipe them out as the shias had about 30 years of vengence to catch up on.

The sunnis went too far and blew up a shia mosque, so the shias started blowing things up as well. Now we have a situation where there will be outright civil war if the Yanks leave.

The sunnis and the shias have to sort out their pecking order to see who will be king of the kids or the last one standing.

They had a golden opportunity to make a good life for themselves but are too bloody stupid to do so.

We may as well get out and leave them to it. Just hang around outside to ensure no other foreign power comes and takes control.

I do not come into this debate as anti American yes I once thought the war would give freedom to Iraq.
See not hard for me to get out of Iraq, sorry I was wrong.
However I am anti republican America, and its slave Howard, see its the lies, endless lies.
Its a far different reason for war dislike of Saddam than weapons of mass destruction that never existed in the end.
How can America get out, how can they ever get out with out the loss of face that concerns Bush more than right or wrong?
Yes one day we must fight in this area see the insanity of Iran.
No my lefty brothers and sisters do not overlook the fact we must one day fight this war on the west.
Not however under Bush.
The world needs Al Gore I see no other American leader I care to trust.

Conscientious Objection a ‘Human Right’

Conscientious objection has been recognised by the United Nations as a human right protected by international law. Two South Korean conscientious objectors, imprisoned for refusing to join the army, had had their right to free expression of their religious beliefs violated, said the UN’s Human Rights Committee. It ordered the government to compensate them and ensure this does not happen again.

A full analysis of this case appeared in a briefing paper produced by the Quaker United Nations Office, Geneva. It is available for download from www.quno.org

For the first time the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations has unequivocally stated that conscientious objection to military service is a right protected by international human rights law.

The decision came about as the result of a case brought to the Committee by two South Korean conscientious objectors (COs). South Korea has compulsory conscription with no alternative for COs and the two men, both Jehovah’s Witnesses (who are pacifist), argued that their right to free expression of their religious beliefs was being denied.

After their case was rebuffed by every court in South Korea, the men, Yeo-Bum Yoon and Myung-Jin Choi, took their argument to the UN. On 3rd November 2006 the Human Rights Committee, which oversees and interprets the relevant treaty (the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights(ICCPR)) stated that South Korea’s practice of denying any alternative to military service and imprisoning those who refused to perform it violated their rights under Article 18 of the ICCPR and ordered the Korean government to compensate the men and ensure that this does not happen again.

- Australia Yearly Meeting Secretary's Newsletter March 2007

Check out the Australian Quaker Forum

http://quakers.org.au/forum/index.php

What are you recycling here?
Why ignore the forums rules?

Iraq was heading for a bright future until the Big US Profiteers took control.
The contracts for the Bagdad Airport is typical,The contractor stole the equipment owned by the Iraq Government, then sold them to the US governmnet for millions. Great work if you can get it?
The total collape of ethics after the US took over is just like the Wild West.
Why do US troops need flack jackets and helmets to patrol their areas while the British do not?