Iraqis say Basra quieter after British troop pullout - Reuters

This seems to fly in the face of those arguing for a continued U.S. military presence in Iraq and bolsters the argument that the insurgency is fueled by the occupation.

"Iraqis say Basra quieter after British troop pullout" - Reuters

BASRA, Iraq (Reuters) - Residents of Iraq's southern city of Basra have begun strolling riverfront streets again after four years of fear, their city much quieter since British troops withdrew from the grand Saddam Hussein-era Basra Palace.

Political assassinations and sectarian violence continue, some city officials say, but on a much smaller scale than at any time since British troops moved into the city after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.
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"The situation these days is better. We were living in hell ... the area is calm since their withdrawal," said housewife Khairiya Salman, who lives near the palace.

Civil servant Wisam Abdul Sada agreed. "We do not hear the sounds of explosions which were shaking our houses and terrifying our women and children," he told Reuters.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKYAT72246420071001

Get the lead out, and the troops!

Early last spring, the military pulled out in order to concentrate more fully on the mess in Baghdad. Just last week I heard some fool in a suit call it a success story in Iraq. Conclusion? After the US left, the Iraqis solved their own problems and then went about their business.

The Road to Iraqi Success: LEAVE.

After all the hundreds of billions the taxpayers were charged on their national credit cards for the Bush family cronies and the Cheney corporate crooks to stack up in their offshore bank accounts? LEAVE?

Nah... Can't have that, ya know, all these billions will have been squandered in vain.... WASTED!! See? :sarcasm:

How embarrassing to BushCo. I'm sure they were hoping for mega-bloodshed.

need to be called on this.
I believe we're staying for the oil and that's it. Is the blood of countrymen worth it?