General Petraeus did not say there was no military solution to Iraq. He never has and likely never will. He likely said there was no military solution alone alluding to reconciliation among reconcilable parties and economic measures.

Norman MacIntyre, Marion, AR US

As always, US citizens show less ability to think for themselves, than almost any other nationality. This serious impediment is based on the simplistic policy that America is the only nation on earth that matters. Its citizens, with very, very few exceptions always regurgitate the line fed them by their government and its satellites, regardless of its perfidy or disingenuousness.

J.V.A. Robinson, Alicante, Spain

Did anyone listen to the King of Jordan in his talk to the US Congress?? There is a way out of this problem but we have to engage the help of the neighbors to Iraq. I am traveling in Jordan and we are facing a great opportunity to come out ahead on this or we can continue to be the hated country around the world. We need leaders that are willing to listen to others and not stick to the tried and true "Stay the course"

The course is not working and it is angering all Arabs. If you did not hear the speach and even if you did, It is excellent reading!!!!!

Brad Carson, Chesterfield, VA

Both the house and senate need to shut down our government and protest at the white house lawn to end this war. I am a republican who supported this mess until recently. We are doing nothing to help iraq, we are just making it worse. End this war now, and begin political talks with iraq, and iran. And speaking of Iran... my god, stop picking a fight with Iran! What is Bush thinking!

Fern, Northridge, CA,

It amazes me the comments made by idiots from other countries who couldn't or wouldn't protect themselves or others from harm. They just leave it up to others to fight for them then complain about the way it gets done. I say either put up or shut up. This war was authorized by our congress, ordered by UN resolutions and carried out by a coalition of willing countries based on information given to us by other parties. Where is that wrong. If you don't like President Bush so be it, but don't say our fighting Men are doing something illegal. Europe is so liberal now it won't be long till the concentration camps are resurrected and manned again with people who want the world like them.

Will Hartley, Wilkesboro, USA , NC

There is a military solution now, just as there was when the Italians faced the same insurgency problem in Libya during the 1920's/1930's. The solution is to seal the borders and seal off problem towns. This will do two things:

1) Cut off reinforcements
2) Cut off supplies to insurgents

The insurgency will dry up.

However, U.S. military strategy since Vietnam has been to leave entire tracts of wide open borders unsecured, to position its own troops in isolated pockets while any in-between ground is no-man's land.

Until the U.S. seals borders off (militarily, which requires many more troops), the insurgency will continue to be resupplied and reinforced, and this conflict will have another good (or bad) ten years in it.

Bill, Dallas, Texas

Before he got sorted out, Saddam was planning to raise an army to liberate Palestine. Now Iraq is in a frightful internecine conflict. Who wins?. Israel. Consolation prize goes to Iran and Syria. Who picks up the bill in blood and treasure?. The USA and UK. Who loses, above all? - ordinary citizens of Iraq. We may have bombed the terror training camps in Afghanistan but we have inadvertantly created a wonderful fully-equiped and realistic NEW training ground in Iraq. It must be, for Islamic fighters, "The biggest trainb set a boy ever had", to paraphase Orson Welles on Hollywood.

Piggy Kruger, Bridgwater, UK

In my mind there was little justification to the invasion of iraq but now that we are there there is a bigger problem. If we pull out, Iran and Syria will carve up these countries politically rather than militarily and we might actually have an "axis of evil" in the middle east. If we ever get into another big war dont doubt that these three would take advantage of our distraction to attack either Israel or Saudi Arabia. Then could you say hello to a new middle east order? Mabey even a new world order, if they use there oil wealth to influence countries like China or us into do whatever. The United States has been intent on stopping another Hitler from coming around sence WWII (cold war) but if we pull out we might just have another middle east Hitler to deal with. Any withdrawl would not only mean chaos in Iraq but a show of weakness that would call to our enemies to expliot it. there is only one solution, create a relatively stable government that wont bend over to Iran.

michael, mundelein, illinois

Democracy cannot be implemented in iraq due to many different factors, ne of the factors is IRAQ know's no democracy, it is a very long and hard task to achive what the president is TRYING to do in iraq, even is democracy is achived, it will be very easy to dismantle once the united states is gone from iraq, humans cannot obligate other humans to belong to a certain political structure or religion, it is like trying to tame a full grown crocodile knowing that at any minute in time it has the capability to tear your arm off or even kill you, us as AMERICANS cannot and should not try to make an entire country believe in what we believe specially using military force! ... they do not understand democracy... lets put our selfs in their shoes for just 1 minute... would you like for a country to invade, and stay and make you into a certain political structure? many at home will result to the same rebelious anger... MORAL of my comment is simple, we cannot obligate anyone to become like us!

HAMLET BORDON, MIAMI, united states FL

We need to as a country stand by Iraq and NOT run. Granted there have been mistakes made in the past. However, the USA does not RUN. We should continue to progress the people of Iraq on both political and military fronts until Iraq can stand on its own. We MUST do this! This is too important an issue to cut and run! We need to unite as a country again and do what is right!

Brian Samson, Watertown, New York

US occupation must end ,US forces need to leave Iraq and US bases have to be either dismantled or handed over to Iraqi people.This is an illegal war to keep occupying Iraq and this must come to an end.
US forces and its hired killers(british SAS,australian SAS rangers,peshmerga etc) need to stop planting bombs to kill shiites and stop the militias and death squad's killing of sunnis.US must stop creation of a permanent split and civil war between shiites and sunnis.
If not then US must not expect any allies in the muslim world.There will be none if this aggression against palestinians and occupation of iraq and afghanistan continues.

omash, greenville, SC

Should the Bush Administration bring Gen. Petreus up on treason charges for stating that their 4 year-old policy was all wrong ,or should they start the campaign to scapegoat Rumsfeld for this mess? Either way Bush/Cheney won't admit to any failures and will keep on smiling through the pain for the next 22 months.

Brian, Wisconsin,

I think that, sadly, it's already been decided in many ways. With Saddam gone from power and the Shiites in control, Iran is the big winner. They must be laughing themselves silly in Tehran! Iranian influence in the Middle East has grown two-fold since the invasion of Iraq. We have Bush and his coalition friends to thank for that.

One person said, "all we do is save you and the world after every natural disaster". Not quite! You can't even fix New Orleans after the Katrina disaster. America should gradually withdraw from Iraq and fix things at home. Fix the poverty in the inner cities and the poorer States. Don't try to police the world. In many cases, no one's asking you to do it.

And, by the way, the World Wars were won by many countries, not just America. To say otherwise, is to devalue the sacrifice of ALL Allied soldiers.

Laurie, Hebbs Cross, Canada

Really people, is there a way for war to be legal? Does some governing body issue a permit for war? Would you prefer that a world leader stand idly by as millions of people are exterminated by a tyrant bent on cleansing his nation of everyone who doesn't share his religion? This is a lose/lose situation for anyone. The masses scream for someone to step up to the plate and take action for all the people clamoring about injustice in the world. The person that does is ridiculed and insulted by the insufferable throng who think war is inherently wrong for some inane reason like it's 'illegal'. It seems for some that it's way too easy to fire up their laptop and whine on the internet while basking in their strifeless, freedom filled lives and apply their own moral measure to the actions of the few who have the courage to lead, all the while forgetting how they attained freedom themselves. Isn't there an old adage about judging a man before walking in his shoes?

Ray, Orlando, FL, Florida

The US is no longer viewed as "liberators" but as "occupiers" and until the US pulls it military out, both Sunni and Shi'a will continue to view us as an army of occupation.

Iraq was artificially created by Great Britain, and can not stand as a single nation unless its government is re-constituted as a federation of three independently ruled states, each ruled according to their own traditions while still contributing to their common interests.

Ronald L Gurney, Utica, NY USA

I know, things would be so much better with Saddam and we could all just bury our heads in the sand until something happened that directly affected us instead of doing what's right for humankind; if only we left Hitler in Belgium instead of initiating an illegal war against him in order to restore your freedom; I can't believe how cruel the U.S. is; all we do is save you and the world after every natural disaster, every army you can't defeat takes you over; let us know whenever you accomplish anything that actually makes the world safe for all and not just the terrorists.

Roscoe, Kansas City, MO

At last a USA general who seems to be understanding what he is talking about. Maybe he can even convince Bush and his bully team to seriously start direct talks with all involved parties and focus on results instead of on retorics.

bill, New York, New York

Since when are wars "legal" or "illegal"? (honestly)
Assuming there was a legal aspect to warfare, what would that have to do with potential military strategy of said war? (think about it)
How about in the future, you investigate what you're going to speak about, before you regurgitate what you hear.

Mahoney, Anaheim, CA

Enough is enough! Let Iraq take care of Iraq. America should concentrate on take care of Americans first!

Truth, Los Angeles, USA

No military solution! Then why are there and why are we staying?

Carter, West Palm Beach, Florida

A place like Iraq
The insurgency can only be removed by COMPLETE military action such as carpet bombing and forms of weapons like napalm that can cover a large area.
Even then, democracy could never be put in place.
The people there have to contribute a little bit, for it to work.
They are so used to being told how, what, and when to live their lives, they will never be used to a democracy.
In some places (such as Iraq) a complete monarchy/totalitarian government is best.
They have to rule with an iron fist to maintain control.

O and anna de brux,
Since you live in Belgium, I guess then you definitly know what its like in the US.
Well anyway you gave me a good laugh, so thanks!!

MJK, Richmond, VA, United States of America

This war in Iraq, and all wars, are horrible for everyone (except for war profiteers), but an‘us and them’ attitude is detrimental for everyone. Sadly many governments and corporations all over the world profit directly from the effects of a war on a region. I could be wrong but I thought that illegal violence and wars, exploited people, racism, ignorance, nationalism, lack of tolerance, war capitalism, etc. happen everywhere, sadly even in modern Europe. Unfortunately is not just one (or a few) politicians that mislead a country of people. Where there is greed there is blame.

Pete Saragosa, Denver, Colorado

The longer this goes on the harder it will be for anyone to accept that the decision made to go there in the first place was very very wrong. Now we are discussing talks with people who have no respect for life itself? Experts our administration placed on the ground have admitted there is no way to resolve the problem with force. How many people need to make this point before our administration realizes this is hopeless. It is time to focus on our plan to withdraw from the region, accept our mistake and take the criticism from the rest of the world. That pill is much easier to swallow than the further loss of life by our troops. It is time to bring them home.

SMK, New Brunswick,

Illegal? You must be kidding. The war was a bad idea in the first place but the USA needs to stay there to finish the job or Iran will take over Iraq. Do I really need to spell out what would happen next? (Nukes anyone?)

Anthony Alves, Portland Area, USA

Those who push for an immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq are inviting anarchy in a country plagued with violence for the last four years.

Regardless of your views on the legitimacy of the beginning of the war, reducing violence and developing a stable, functioning democracy in Iraq is a worthwhile, even noble, goal. Were the current situation not the result of US intervention, the same people calling for the withdrawal of US troops would be calling for military intervention to stop the genocide.

Even if we did screw up, we need to fix the problem, not exacerbate it.

Mike, Austin, USA

telling the americans to go home is a simpletons answer. although the invasion was a mistake, they can't just pick up and leave. as collin powell said, it's like the pottery barn. you break it, you bought it. now iraq is a broken country, people are killing each other and they won't stop and start hugging each other because the americans leave.

isaac, taipei, taiwan

If we conclude that there is no military solution , why is our military there. To think that we have a chance of providing security for a political solution is to continue to live in the illusion of that last three years.

Billy, Dolores, Colo

An end to an illegal war can only be achieved by withdrawal of the invading armies.

Military solution to the illegal war on Iraq? Bush must be kidding.

Anna de Brux, Brussels, Belgium