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Germany and Japan had that cadre, too. Care to look into how long it was before they were running their own affairs?

I'm not saying it can't be done, I'm saying it can, but must be done carefully, and will take time. This is not a "quick fix", which modern Americans always want.

Germany and Japan were almost totally destroyed, had no economy, were split and occupied by multiple nations and surrounded by ticked off nations. The circumstances for a liberated Iraq will be totally different and we will probably have far less to do with it then some seem to think.

I don't believe the public is as concerned with quick fixes are you think. I know the press is, when it's convenient to their purposes. Same with politicians and anyone else with a political agenda. I don't believe the public at large really cares that much.

I don't see a whole of lot public outcry to bring our troops home from anywhere else they are performing so-called peace keeping duties...most people don't even know they're there. The average American is only interested in a quick exit from combat...occupation means little to them.

The Occupation of Japan lasted from 1945 to 1952. They created a constitution with a democratic form of government that was approved in May of 1947. After that, the government was democratic and the American occupation consisted of economic stabilization. My mother's cousin helped set up the post-war banking system in Japan. Considering the success of the Japanese nation, and its dependability as an ally since that time, and the fact that is has been both self-sufficient and a non-miltary threat to countries in the region, I would say that the seven years were well spent. (The last few years of the American Occupation had a much reduced military force.)

The occupation of Germamny lasted from 1945 to 1949. Germany had had a history of democratic government and western banking and industry, so we were able to leave Germany more quickly than Japan.

It seems to me reasonable to assume that Iraq's occupation would fall somewhere between the two. Iraq HAS had elections and a functioning government before the takeover of Hussein, and they have an educated population.