Do you think it is suicide to set a time table to withdrawl for Iraq? Read th eentire story at the site provided.

Iraqis divided by U.S. troop timetable call By Dean Yates and Khalid al-Ansary
Thu Jul 17, 10:01 AM ET

Iraqis divided by U.S. troop timetable call - Yahoo! News

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqis want the U.S. military presence to end. But when that occurs -- and whether a timetable should be set for troops to leave -- is something ordinary Iraqis, security officials and politicians cannot agree on.

The differing views of two dozen people interviewed across the country reflect the dramatic changes in the past few months in Iraq, where violence is at a four-year low.

Iraqi security forces, with U.S. military backing, have cracked down on Shi'ite and Sunni Arab militants in several large-scale operations across the country.

That has given many Iraqis more faith in their own forces. Others insist the army and police cannot go it alone and that a premature withdrawal of U.S. troops could open the door to the sort of violence that nearly tore Iraq apart not so long ago.

It's a dilemma Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama will confront when he visits Iraq soon. He has called for the removal of U.S. combat troops within 16 months of taking office.

"Setting a timetable or conducting a quick withdrawal would be like committing suicide. I do not think the Iraqi army and police will be able to keep the peace," said Muneer Abbas, a local politician in the southern oil city of Basra.

I responded to a similar question in another forum, so I'll paste that response here.

The fact of the matter is, that, whatever our governments say to mask the truth, there is now a civil war in Iraq. Factionalism among Sunnis and Shiites and multiple armed groups on both sides have one ambition. They desire power and they believe they can eventually wrest control from the government. The presence of an army of occupation will not change these views and ambitions. The army of occupation simply becomes the target.

The Shiite dominated government is, to say the least, a weak one and Bush’s objective of propping it up to create a stable and democratic regime is unrealistic. Given the dominance of Shiites in the administration, making any success of the current government will amount to siding increasingly with the dominant factor – the Shiites. Not exactly a formula for long term peace and stability in the region.

Surge tactics may well reduce violence, but they only delay the inevitable end game. I would argue that while the US remains committed to maintaining an army of occupation in Iraq it will reduce its diplomatic and military leverage among all groups. An organised withdrawal of troops would allow a situation where the west could play a balancing role between the combatants that would be more conducive to reaching a stable resolution in which Sunni, Shiite, and Kurdish interests are well represented in Iraqi government.

I agree totality. Can't disagree with a man who has first hand knowledge and the wisdom to see past the smoke screens set up by all sides involved in this bitter and stupid war in Iraq.