What would really happen if America announced we were leaving Iraq in six months?

The options are:

1. The world would come to an end.

2. Al-Qaida would take over Iraq.

3. There would be a bigger blood bath than there is now.

4. Iran would invade Iraq and take control.

5 The Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds would stop fighting and cut the country up into areas where they each had control.

6. Americans would stop dying.

7. America would stop spending $10 billion a month on the war.

8. America could send more troops to Afghanistan and fight the real terrorists.

9. Bush would lose face and so would his neo-con buddies.

No one knows the answer to these questions and each group spins the answer to fit their own agenda. Common sense tells us the following would happen. First No. 6, No. 7 and No. 9. Then No. 3 for about six months, then No. 5, then No. 8. The other options simply will not happen. Al-Qaida (Sunnis) cannot exist in a country that hates them more than we do – Shiites and Kurds. Shiites and Kurds are a majority, 75 percent of the population. They will hunt the al-Qaida folks down and kill them. Iran will not invade or take over Iraq.

And finally, No. 1 will not happen either. The reason we will not leave for another two years is No. 9.

Mike Mitte

Edmonds