by Jeannine Johnson

Created on: May 15, 2009   Last Updated: May 19, 2009

What is the harm in setting a timetable for withdrawal of all troops from Iraq? Except the possibility of giving our brave young men and women of the armed forces who risk their lives everyday, hope that they can come home. The reason why we are still there is unclear to many Americans. The sense of Democracy and protection of the newly liberated country seems to be the goals or our military forces now. Well as a veteran I can say with certainty that I was trained to honor, protect and serve these United States, and in that capacity, I don't ever believe I was trained to teach Democracy to others. There needs to be a time-line so that our troops do not feel that there time away from their families is indefinite. There needs to be a time-line because there is no longer a war in Iraq and the business of Iraq becoming an independent country is not one that troops can accomplish. What is left to do in Iraq is not under troop control; it is now up to the people of Iraq and their government.

We have done our part in this so called war and our military needs to be rewarded by knowing when they can come home. What seems to have been forgotten, is that their families have been torn apart for far to long and it is time for them to be brought back together. As a veteran I understand that when you join any branch of service it is with the understanding that in times of war you must fight for your country, and it will require you to be away from your family. However, being as there is no longer a war to fight in Iraq, it is time for our President to set a firm time-line and bring home those brave men and women who have served their country faithfully during this time.

Many will say that our removal of troops may cause a collapse in Iraq, or that the threat of civil war will become a reality. Well who is worried about the soldiers wife who is struggling to make ends meet with her 3 kids while worrying about if her husband will come back alive? Who is worrying about the mother who has already lost one son in Iraq and could possibly lose another if her son does not come home? Who is worried about the little girl who has not seen her mother in a year and prays every night for her to come home? Who is worried about the veterans who look at the death toll in Iraq weekly and grieve over lost lives of fellow Americans?

The timetable must be set so that our soldiers can have hope of returning home, so the mothers can hug their sons and daughters, wives can hug their husbands, husbands can hug their wives and children can hug the mothers and fathers. It was easy to send them there, it really cannot be that hard to set a time to get them out.

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