Since you have practically begged for it, and it seems sooooo important to you, here is my official prediction for what would happen if the US brings its troops home from Iraq.

There will be sectarian and ethnic violence of excatly the type we are seeing right now, but worse. Some Sunni and/or arab groups will be secratly backed by the Saudis. Some Shia groups will be secretly - or perhaps openly - backed by Iran.

This violence has been trying to happen for a thousand years or more, and has been forestalled by colonial powers, and then by Saddam. We are trying to prevent it, but do not have the cruel immorality to stop it the way Saddam did - by making everyone fear him more that "the others" they want to kill. We cannot stop it while we are there unless we become like Saddam.

If we leave, there will be a more open and bloody civil war than the one going on already (but there will be no US troops to target). Eventually it will stop, but the suffering will be huge. Look no further than Yugoslavia for the best recent analog.

There. Happy?

And, just remember, whether this particular prediction comes to pass or not, does not make you any less wrong about Iraq.

Bobert was right.

You were wrong.

We will see whether I am right or wrong.

Goodbye.