Iraq: Should we stay or should we go?

As we all know, the war in Iraq is continuing to grow less popular. Congressional meetings are showing the opposing opinions on the war. On one hand there are people saying that since the world's greatest army is protecting Iraq, the Iraqi government will have no incentive to protect itself. These same people may say that American forces have "become a catalyst for violence" (as Democratic Congressman John Murtha said in a speech supporting the deployment of American troops). Murtha suggested that a gradual pull-out could take six months. On the other side of the argument, people may say that pulling the troops out of Iraq will send a message to terrorists that we will "abandon our interests when we are confronted with murder and blackmail" (as stated by Vice-President Dick Cheney in response to Murtha's comments). In the past few weeks, Donald Rumsfeld and Condoleezza Rice have both commented on the possibility of withdrawing some of the troops.

According to this link, 54% of Americans think the war was a mistake. 32% of Americans believe that the war will result in a stable and reasonably democratic Iraq. A fifth of Americans support the immediate withdrawal of all troops, while most support gradual withdrawal over a long period.

How has the United States economy been affected by the war? Will the economy be better off if the government decides to 1.) pull troops out immediately, 2.) gradually withdrawal, or 3.) stay. And lastly, do you think that the war will negatively reflect upon Republicans in the 2006 election? How so?