WI: Bush pulls out of Iraq after 2006

What would have happened if Bush pulled the US military out of Iraq after the constitution came into force and the Iraqis elected their first government in early 2006?

Would the region be at peace today?
 

CaliGuy

Banned
What would have happened if Bush pulled the US military out of Iraq after the constitution came into force and the Iraqis elected their first government in early 2006?

Would the region be at peace today?
In short: Iraq would probably be a fustercluck today. Specifically, it would probably be recovering from genocide and mass ethnic cleansing at a scale which makes ISIS's OTL actions puny in comparison. :(
 

Archibald

Banned
The roots of what become ISIS were already growing in 2006. Even with eight more years of U.S occupation / military assistance, the Iraqi army collapsed in 2014 against ISIS. In 2006 it would have been worse (if possible).

Best thing would have been not to invade in 2003.
 

CaliGuy

Banned
The roots of what become ISIS were already growing in 2006. Even with eight more years of U.S occupation / military assistance, the Iraqi army collapsed in 2014 against ISIS. In 2006 it would have been worse (if possible).

Agreed.

Best thing would have been not to invade in 2003.

Or to finish off Saddam Hussein back in 1991.
 

SsgtC

Banned
Or to finish off Saddam Hussein back in 1991.
Politically we couldn't. The Saudis were actually against removing him from power at that time. As much as they hated him, he served a useful purpose in the region. He was a buffer zone between Iran and the rest of the Gulf.
 

CaliGuy

Banned
Politically we couldn't. The Saudis were actually against removing him from power at that time. As much as they hated him, he served a useful purpose in the region. He was a buffer zone between Iran and the rest of the Gulf.
jmf247 has previously said that the Saudis were actually OK with Saddam Hussein being removed in 1991, though.
 
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