OPINION > AROUND THE WATER COOLER

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:

Do you agree with a 16-month timetable for U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq proposed by Barack Obama?

Yes: 10

No: 1

■ Karen Anderson: Yes. Experts on the Middle East like Tom Friedman correctly predicted a fiasco in Iraq, leaving Afghanistan in the lurch.

■ Bert Berson: Yes. Those resources can be used to make America safe.

■ Chris Bryant: No. Troop diversions to other areas are warranted but I expect we will need a presence in Iraq for years.

■ David Cohen: I agree with the withdrawal. I question whether the time is adequate and abundant.I agree with the withdrawal. I question whether the time is adequate and abundant.

■ Dennis Kennedy: Yes! I agree with a 16 month timetable for withdrawal. There will never be a perfect time to withdraw our troops. The longer we stay in Iraq, the more lives will be lost, the more of our resources squandered and the more our national image damaged.

■ Julian Mancias: Yes. Having a definitive Iraq withdrawal date will force both countries to sit down and work on an exit plan strategy.

■ Linda McNulty: I believe the time for a partial withdrawal is appropriate but it should be decided by the elected President who can take all military factors into consideration. Presidential candidates are not privy to all the information needed to make recommendations.

■ Lisa Pampuch: Yes. President Bush said we'd leave when Iraq - a sovereign nation - told us to leave. They've done that, endorsing a 16-month withdrawal.

■ John Quick: I generally agreee with the concept of defining the intent and time frame for withdrawal. I believe that reality frequently requires more flexibility than a defined schedule allows.

■ Emily Shem-Tov: Yes, depending on the realities of what happens over that time period, it seems to be moving in the right direction.

■ Steve Staloch: Yes. Iraqi president Maliki essentially endorsed Senator Barack Obama's plan and naysayers can no longer claim it sends the wrong message to our adversaries as even President Bush is floating a reconstituted version of this timetable .

■ Maureen Webb: No response.

Vote in This week's web poll

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