Two U.S. soldiers were killed in fighting in Iraq yesterday as troops battled insurgents east of Baghdad. The recent deaths put U.S. fatalities at over 1,500. The ongoing violence continues to fuel questions about how long U.S. soldiers should stay in that country, and what would happen if they left.
Ever since American forces took Baghdad two years ago, people at dinner tables and in coffee shops have been talking about just how long the troops should stay there. Perhaps, no one is better qualified to have this debate than the soldiers themselves.
National Guardsman Paul Rieckhoff and Marine Corporal Mike Hoffman served in Iraq. Their experiences reflect many shades of emotions Americans feel as they contemplate a timetable for the troops still there. Time to stay or time to leave?
Guests:
Paul Rieckhoff, First Lieutenant in the Army National Guard and founder of Operation Truth
Mike Hoffman, Lance Corporal in the Marine Corps artillery battery, Romeo 5th Battalion 10th Marines and founder of Iraq Veterans Against the War
Ed Wong, reporter for The New York Times based in Baghdad