Why are we supposedly making all this progress and handing over all this territory to the Iraqis and yet our troops are coming home or going to other places where they're more needed coughAfghanistancough?
Is that really a question? Maybe you structured it wrong or I am reading it wrong. But mind you even though we have been bringing troops home and not sending them back, we still need troops over there to train Iraqi forces and to back them up if need be.
It makes is seem even more stupid to have our troops wasting their time and our resources doing nothing. Either we're winning and we can draw down our troops or we're not winning and they need to stay there.
Actually it isn't a "if/or", we are winning, and we are slowly drawing down our troops. This isn't something you be absolutely stupid about and just rush troops out. You bring them out slowly when you are sure the Iraqi forces are able to fully step in and handle the situation. Yes we are winning, yes we have many troops there just sitting on their butts. But right now Iraq doesn't have the man power to fully replace all of those troops. They are getting there, but for each troop removed, a Iraqi soldier has to be there to fully take over the position, and even then we have to make sure that they are fully performing their duties and the US troop wont be needed again.
It is a very slow process, but it should be done slow and correctly, than fast and sloppy.
And don't give me the evil terrorists or Iranians will move in argument because then we might as well break down make Iraq a protectorate of the United States. You can't have your cake and eat it too.
If we move out too fast, and Iraq is unable and unequipped to replace the troops and equipment that we move out, then yes the populous will turn back to anyone that offers protection, and that includes Iran and Al Qaeda. Luckily enough right now we are not moving out too fast, we are taking it slow and making sure the job is done correctly.
Something I would expect you would want when you have so many lives on the line.