charlie, you are a good writer, and i enjoy reading your world coverage. however, i disagree with your acceptance of the illegal and immoral continuance of this war in any way, shape or form. In ten years, Iraq will still be “vulnerable to collapse” because of the very nature of the country’s multi-headed, deeply rooted sects/religious beliefs and longstanding history of turmoil. Hell, our country IS collapsing! It’s not our country, the US starts wars based on lies (Vietnam–Gulf of Tonkin, Iraq WMD/9/11 supposed links), and it needs to be stopped. That is what should be stressed now, NOT war funding apathy, i.e. continuing to believe what Washington tells us just because a suave speaking, albeit intelligent man has taken office. Same common denominator policy, different salesman.

History continues to prove that country’s must desire to change and reform their own policies and act on behalf of their respective populations. History continues to prove that occupations of countries do not solve problems, diplomacy does. Occupation and war creates death and more division. Change comes from within, not from outside imperial rule.

there’s no reason for our country to continue funding these immoral and unfounded wars in iraq and afghanistan – other than the attempt to solidify the dozens of US bases established over the last 6 years between iraq and afghanistan as a method of control over natural resources in the middle east for decades to come. It’s American military imperialism, plain and simple, and it needs to stop or be stopped.

so…in a nutshell, charlie, i’m glad you wrote at the end “lets get out as soon as possible” , but fear of iraqi collapse does not outweigh what SHOULD be our moral obligation to apologize to the iraqi people for our mistakes, hand over ALL responsibility and start leaving now. With friends in the military and recently back from service (with their friends lost), they and I agree in this fact: The longer we stay, the more of a crutch our soldiers become for the iraqi security force. One more year, 18 months, till 2011, it’s all bull shit. Dems, Repubs, whatever.

This guy (barack) voted against war funding two years ago, now he is pushing through ADDITIONAL 80 BILLION in funding bombings and 60,000 troops in afghanistan. wake the hell up. he’s a great salesman, i give barack that, but i’m not buying it.

the beat goes on. down with the US military complex

@ Jay:

You make some great points. And, ideologically, I really want to agree with you and say, “Let’s get the hell out of there.” But I think we need to be careful with the endgame. We can’t just up and leave in a big hurry because we made a mistake going in. We OWE it to the Iraqis not to screw things up even more. And maybe that means getting out right away – I hope that’s the case. But if our military leadership thinks we need to slow down our withdrawal somewhat, we need to be responsive to that.

In many ways I do agree with you. Even as Republicans scream about defense budget cuts, the Obama administration actually increased defense spending again this year. I’d love to see those dollars focused on domestic priorities – healthcare, education, and the economy. (Well, maybe not the economy since all we’ve got right now is the PPIP plan).

“down with the US military complex” – yes. definitely. but stability in the Middle East is really important. so let’s do what we can, and then get out.

Good commentary charlie, I am very glad to see your articles on nyu local, as not many young journalists – and mainstream “professional” journalists for that matter – are holding the current administration accountable for things like the rise in military spending. It’s very laissez faire, matter of fact “here is what is happening.”

Why isn’t George Stephanopolous, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid or anyone other than Ron Paul and Kucinich screaming for this funding to stop, questioning “Is this NEEDED now when our country needs our focus totally at home and not abroad hunting a man the FBI is not even connecting to 9/11?” It’s sad.

In EVERY instance, be it military spending, the president’s general budget, 9/11…
FOLLOW the MONEY. It, unfortunately in this American life, is what drives everything.

Just keep doing what you are doing – practicing good journalism, holding our leaders accountable for their actions, and keep digging deeper for the truth.

Military says Combat deaths are at the lowest point ever

Latest ABC News/BBC/NHK poll of over 2,000 Iraqis says Eighty-four percent of Iraqis now rate security in their own area positively, Seventy-eight percent say their protection from crime is good, Three-quarters say they can go where they want safely, Sixty-five percent of Iraqis say things are going well in their own lives and 64 percent of Iraqis now call democracy their preferred form of government

The World Bank says 77% of Iraqis now have access to improved water sources

The New York Times says access to Electricity has surpassed pre-war levels

The International Organization for Migration says the number of refugees returning to Iraq each month now number in the thousands and rising

Al qaeda has suffered it’s worst defeat in it’s history

Iran has suffered it’s worst defeat since it’s war with Saddam

Saddam’s regime is no more

Victory – 6 years after Liberation

Thank you Gen. Petraeus

transplant the word “McCain” for “Obama” in this story and somehow I don’t see you as supportive anymore, Charlie.

Maybe you would be, though.

@ Chris: Why are you being nasty? This piece really had nothing to do with Obama – it had to do with our top general warning us about exiting too quickly. I would argue the same thing if McCain were President – we must be prudent and cautious.

Also, do I come across as a knee jerk supporter of the Obama administration?

I wasn’t trying to be nasty at all, sorry.

You’re not a knee jerk supporter of Obama, but I think for instance if McCain or Bush had said (and they did) that it will take time to successfully and responsibly get out of Iraq, I think many liberals (and possibly you) might well have responded that this type of thinking is not sufficient.

There was such a huge demand for a “timetable” leading up to the presidential election. Now, Obama is essentially scrapping the timetable and justifying it with the same concerns McCain and Bush had about getting out of Iraq.

It’s more of a double standard I see. You obviously don’t trust McCain or Bush if they used this type of reasoning, and rightfully so. But you do trust Obama. He certainly has different rhetoric than Bush and McCain (and maybe that is a good enough reason to trust him), but I don’t see how his actions are worthy of any more trust than you would give to McCain or Bush.

Exactly, Chris, well said. This discussion is important.

The person who held the land’s highest office for the past eight years knowingly lied us into war, costing hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilian deaths and thousands of US miitary deaths. The responsibility is on the shoulders of Barack Obama to be a man of his word and not only champion the immediate end of these wars as he promised (why do we need 50,000 troops on bases in Iraq draining our money?), but to start turning the page of George Bush’s foreign policy of pre-emptive invasions and a total reversal of a false “War on Terror.”

The War on Terror was all based on lies (do we need to go into the whole Colin Powell BSng the UN, do we need to rediscover the Valerie Plame/Joe Wilson revelation of the Bush lies into the Niger yellow cake nonsense) and taking advantage of a terror-struck America, so why isn’t the War on Terror over? We were all suckered and lied to! It’s because the military has the presidency in a full nelson.

Unless Barack stands up and does the right thing for the American People, I see him as part of the problem, as was Nancy Pelosi in 2006 when she said that impeachment was off the table. How could impeachment be off the table but increasing funding for these wars was on the table? Where was Barack on the talk of impeachment? He speaks of justice conveniently when it suits his corporate interests, not in defense of the constitution or our rights.

Right now, it appears the Bush foreign policy of the War on Terror is still intact, though under a different name, and under the guise of being a “better war to fight (afghanistan).”

It’s all ridiculous.