September 13, 2007

StreetTalk

by Carol Rosen

Gen. David Petraeus, leader of U.S. forces in Iraq, this week asked Congress for an additional six months. Do you think U.S. forces made any progress to win the war the previous six months and do you think six additional months will help? (Asked at the Almaden Center)

“I’m ex-military. I don’t think we’ve made progress, we need six more months or four more divisions. But it’s too late to pull out; we’re already committed. We shouldn’t have gone in in the first place.”

George Potter, 46
Capitola
Financial advisor


“No, we haven’t made any progress and six more months won’t help. Congressman Lantos put Petraeus [during the congressional hearing on Monday] on the spot telling him it’s time to get out and let the Iraqi people work it out themselves.”

Noel Lanctot, 65
Almaden
Retired


“I think the troop surge probably helped a bit. It should have. But we can’t do this forever. I’m not sure another six months will make a difference.”

Tim Lombard, 50
Almaden
Manager at Cisco Systems


“In a way it would be good to stay and finish what we started. If we win, then it’s worth it. We should just start and leave when things don’t clear up. We shouldn’t have gone in in the first place. But lots of people have been injured and lots have died. Six more months should be the last chance to stop the war.”

Briana Causey, 15
Almaden
Sophomore at Leland


“My personal feelings are that I have a friend in the Marines who will be completely done in a few months. Anything can happen in the next six months. But I think there will continue to be high casualties with low to no outcome in my uneducated opinion."

Kevin Klug, 24
Almaden
Car salesman


"No and no.”

Marwan Balaa, 53
Almaden
Physician


"I think so for both, if not throwing all the gains we’ve made away. It would be best if [our soldiers] did come home. But, what use is their service if it was all in vain."

Bonnie Vee Loeber, 83
Almaden
Retired from Mervyns


“They haven’t made any progress [during the past six months], and six more months won’t help at all.”

Linda Mine, 47
Almaden
Health care practitioner