John Murtha, a conservative Democrat, who also happens to be a retired Marine Colonel and Vietnam vet has some strong words for ending it now.

Time to come home

"The war in Iraq is not going as advertised. It is a flawed policy wrapped in illusion. The American public is way ahead of us. The United States and coalition troops have done all they can in Iraq, but it is time for a change in direction. Our military is suffering. The future of our country is at risk. We cannot continue on the present course. It is evident that continued military action is not in the best interests of the United States of America, the Iraqi people or the Persian Gulf Region.

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More on Murtha's speech:

War and Piece

< MURTHA >: And he had been wounded and lost both his hands. The kid behind him was killed. His mother said, because they were friendly bomblets, they wouldn't give him a Purple Heart. I met with the commandant. I said, "If you don't give him a Purple Heart, I'll give him one of mine." And they gave him a Purple Heart.

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Here is an audio interview with James Fallows by Terry Gross on NPR.

'Why Iraq Has No Army'

In a cover article for the December issue of Atlantic Monthly, reporter James Fallows argues there is no easy way out of Iraq for American forces. Pressure is mounting to withdraw U.S. troops, but the move would almost certainly leave Iraq in chaos. It will take years to train an Iraqi security force.

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  thanks to firedoglake

Fallows lays out two options. The first is that we rebuild the Iraq Army. That will take many years. If we can't do that we need to get out as fast as we can. Basically, his message is that we're fucked. Of course, the Iraqis are in a much worse situation.

My 23 Days In Iraq--A War Story

Bang-Bang-Bang-Bang-Bang...Hell yeah! I think I killed the fucker! Oh fuck. I'm out of ammo. Time for a mag-change. As I changed my magazine, little did I know, a hajji(In this case a Fedayeen Guerilla) had moved out of the bunker in the back yard that I was in. He moved up to where the guy I just wasted was now lying, dead. As I put another magazine in my M-16 A-2 service rifle, he was aiming in on me...from a short 40 ft. away. I racked another round in the chamber, then looked up to see a hajji aimed in at me. And before I could even raise my weapon, I saw an orange muzzle flash. Then I saw black. I slowy opened my eyes and realized I was on the ground and my rifle was about 5 ft away from me. I was sitting kinda on my knees. Then I realized...I was shot. And not only that, I was paralyzed from the neck down. And then I saw the Hajji still shooting in my direction. "Holy shit", I thought. "I'm a fucking gonner".

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"For 13 Damn Days": Attention Must Be Paid

Benson's son, Latseen, a U.S. Army specialist, became the victim of a roadside bomb in Iraq. He lost his legs and still has not regained consciousness. Latseen Benson was on his second tour of duty in Iraq. Benson says after her son’s first tour, Latseen tried to get out of the Army after his four-year commitment ended Oct. 31, but the military's stop-loss order kept him in and sent him back to Iraq. "So for 13 damn days my son's life is ruined," said Benson. ...

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U.S. 'can't maintain Iraq troop levels'