The Iraqi government recently asked the United States for a timetable for the pullout of U.S. forces from Iraq.

President Bush has remained noncommittal on the subject, saying only that the U.S. will not immediately be pulling out of Iraq, which some members of Congress have been pressing for the president to do.

The editorial board of the Northern Star believes setting a timetable based on the calendar is not the best option. Instead, if the government puts forth some sort of timetable, it should be based on specific goals and tasks that offer tangible results.

First, war is much too fluid to have a timetable based on dates. What happens if the deadline for leaving Iraq approaches and the resistance significantly increases?

Does the United States leave anyway, knowing the violence is escalating and the country is in chaos?

The United States cannot do that.

Remember the United States started this whole thing. It’s the Bush administration’s responsibility to leave Iraq in better shape than it was before the United States invaded.

In addition, just because America sets a date for withdrawal does not mean we will have accomplished our goals or that Iraq will be stable and secure. The United States would be hated worldwide, even more so than now, if we leave and Iraq is still in a state of flux.

Also, if America, for example, says it will leave Iraq on May 31, 2009, what will that mean for the insurgency? The United States might as well circle that date on the insurgents’ calendar for them. The insurgents can plan ahead if they know exactly when U.S. troops are leaving.

With more than 2,000 U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq, the American people deserve to see some sort of plan from the government.

The last thing anyone wants is for Iraq to become another quagmire like Vietnam was during the ‘60s and ‘70s. Too many good young men and women died in that useless war. We cannot keep sending Americans across the ocean and have no exit plan.

It should be known that the Star does not agree with the invasion of Iraq or the actions of the administration. But that does not matter now. We’re there, and nothing can change what we’ve done. Let’s accomplish what we want to and get the heck out.

Just don’t set a specific date or dates for withdrawal.

Agree? Disagree? Contact us at

www.northernstar.info.