"If it were so free, why doesn't your country's military leave as is the democratic will of the majority of Iraqis and their representatives?"

Would that be the democratic body that *specifically asked us not to leave yet?*

Aaron, Austin,

AE, they have never voted for us to leave. The "will of the majority of the Iraqis and their representatives" you're talking about is actually a rather vocal minority. (I'm in the US Army, deployed to Kuwait, and I've talked to troops from up north repeatedly about this. Most of the Iraqis like us.)

James S., Camp Arifjan, Kuwait

Anyone trying to defend the war in Iraq is fighting a hopeless battle. We had a terrific chance in the beginning of this to go into the country and ally them with us. Through attrocious mismanagement we have left that country a hollowed husk of massive unemployment, loss of antiquities, and hate.

Brent, Sacramento, CA, USA

SAy what you want about Bush , but let's not forget , that for the last 7 1/2 years we have not been attacked in he USA or abroad other then the war zones. That's pretty remarkable. We have not had a record like that for over 30 + years. Thank god for Bush keeping America safe for the last 7 year.

Brian L., Washington DC, USA

Was US justified in invading Iraq??. It has given same false excuses when invading Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq and called the freedom fighters " terrorists". US killed millions in these countries by claiming to spread freedom. But luckily is facing the same results ie. defeat and withdrawl

Ahmad Mir, Sialkot, Pakistan

AE, Sydeny:

When has the Iraqi government asked the Americans to leave? That's news to me! Iraqi government ministers have said time and time again that they do not want the Americans to leave yet, until they are capable of handling the existing security situation themselves.

Sean, Kesh, N. Ireland

Dear JohnG, what a delusional comment. Iraq is a destroyed country due to the Bush maladminiatration, not a free one. If it were so free, why doesn't your country's military leave as is the democratic will of the majority of Iraqis and their representatives?

AE, Sydney, Australia

Maybe we can bring democracy to Syria like we did in Iraq, where now the majority of the country is subject to fundamentalist Shia law. That's the plan, right?

Mike, Milton, GA, USA

Why is it that I simply do not care what leftists and anti-Americans think about this raid. We did what was necessary and we will continue to do what is necessary. By the way, has anyone noticed that the Iraqis have a free country today and have taken over most of their security requirements?

JohnG, Jackson, USA

This is in reply to the last comment by CT,London,UK about the farmers ability to identify weapons .what commentator does not know is that all male Syrians have to serve in the army 24-36 months,and many of those may have served some of that time in Lebanon where Christian militias use M-16 rifle.

tameem eche, fenton, MO

Well as an American and a X US soldier. I guess we could leave the rest of the world alone. That was the same attitude we had before we got into the 2nd world war..... Some here still think we should have stayed out of that one.

Does the rest of the world really think they are not in a war?

Keith B, Portland Oregon, USA

This raid is a stormi in a teacup. UNtil ntions show that there are no safe havens behind "soverign" borders terrorism will continue. The countries that harbour and sponsor terrorism must pay the price. many more raids across "sovereign' borders are necessary.

bernard ross, st anns bay, jamaica

Doctrine? you are over estimating the man,he does not know the meaning of the word,he has no doctrine and why should he when he has God almighty to his side and he receives commands and massages from him during the night .

tamim eche, St. Louis, Missouri

The country that brought terror and instability to Iraq is the USA.

Now we see it starting to do the same to Syria using weapons and propaganda (lies) and all the while there are innocent people tortured and detained in Guantanamo.

How many more must be killed, injured or displaced to avenge 9/11?

richard mullens, London, Europe

It appears that Bush Doctrine is more powerful then Internatinal laws; and people life is cheaper than M-16 bullets.

People Doctrine, NY, NY

Bush and his WW3 ???
Why not go out in a blaze of destruction.

rick, newcastle, uK

I love how the "farmer" is so adept at identifying weapons and which military forces use which weapons. Surround a terrorist with some women and children and he automatically becomes a civilian.

CT, London, UK

Let's be rational. Why would "poor pilgrims" build a compound on land known to the world as "ratlines" for murdering terrorists? Where did the money money to build originate? Terrorist are civilians; "workers" don't carry RPG's and AK47's? The dead were complicit, not innocent bystanders.

Adam Mercan, Missouri, USA

Sadam Hussein would never have allowed Osama bin Laden to operate in Iraq. The same is true in Syria and Egypt. The terrorists only came to Iraq to kill the American soldiers. A dream come true for the peverters of Islam.

Madrub, Isdood, Palestine

The situation in the Middle-East is very murky. On the whole Assad's Syria is a dictatorship lusting for hegemony over Lebanon and the destruction of Israel, yet willing to compromise its 'holy' principles for the sake of remaining in power. Typical Arab mentality that the US is wise to manipulate

Moses, NYC, USA

Poster as usual are great at trivia and missing the big picture.

Iraqis now demand for renewal of SOFA that it firmly rejects US permission to attack any neighboring country from their territory. This means no SOFA, and US failure in it goal of a fig leaft success in Iraq.

tarquinis, Seattle, USA

Dumb "crisis PR" with all the ingeniousness of a soldiers boot. And the "definition of self defence" which provides for wiping out a whole family of innocent civilians in a sovereign state without even an expression of regret perfectly fits what Al-Qaeda did on 9-11. Just plain American stupid!

Chavdar, Andorra, Andorra

It makes me laugh when people talk about the USA's world reputation. Dave Farrance, you obviously don't keep up with history. During the Reagan years, your beloved British press savaged the US on a regular basis. It turned out that Reagan was right. Just ask the Poles, Czechs, ect.

Kevin, Perm, Russia

"So the USA's world reputation goes lower than ever"??What is that supposed to mean?Clearly,it's preferable to the man from Cheltenham to have Abu Ghadiya smuggling weapons/terrorists into Iraq to kill and destabilize, than to "tarnish" the US' reputation with those who would exterminate the West

Steve Edge, Pennsylvania, USA

Parts of this story are clearly fabricated. Especially the parts supposedly told by 'a local tribal leader'. “They threatened us that if anyone said anything about what happened in this area, their family members would die,” he said. So why is he talking? This is part of the information war.

Ed Moad, Doha,

Oh great. So the US even had permission, but they can't admit it without destablizing the Syrian president that they find least-unacceptable. What a mess. So the USA's world reputation goes lower than ever.

Dave Farrance, Cheltenham, UK

Just a correction here... The border runs perpendicular to the river and no part of it is "formed" by the river.

Jason, orlando, usa

Perhaps it is time to rephrase the song about the Germans crossing the Rhine - with the Americans crossing the Euphrates.

richard mullens, London, Europe