(CNN) -- President Bush announced a new strategy for Iraq Wednesday night that calls for increasing the number of troops in Baghdad -- and other areas -- by more than 20,000. The plan also calls for the Iraqi government to take responsibility for security in all of Iraq's provinces by November.
We asked CNN.com readers to share their thoughts on the president's plan. Here is a selection of the responses, some of which have been edited for length and clarity.
Daniel Dupuy of Tacoma, Washington
To ignore the sage counsel of our veteran generals would be to abandon our men in the field. I really can't understand why there is so much debate now so deep into a conflict that we cannot, I repeat, cannot afford to lose or let spin out of control. Personally I believe that every American has the duty if not to bare arms for the country that has provided them with so much then to support whatever actions our self-elected government has taken. To accuse or finger point when we have already committed such an unimaginable amount of resources and human effort is just plain demoralizing -- domestically and abroad.
James Zelenka of Franklin, North Carolina
Having served nearly six years in the Army all during the Vietnam War and having served two tours in Vietnam 1968, 1970-1971, I must say I was shocked to realize that much of Bush's speech contained language that could have been used, word for word, by Johnson or Nixon to justify their stand on Vietnam. If our leaders weren't so stuck on comparing Iraq to the Cold War (which we won) and denying it is anything like Vietnam (a war we didn't win) maybe they'd begin to see the light and get us the hell out of there!
Rosemary Camiolo of Sewell, New Jersey
President Bush's plan for Iraq will not change the situation there. The invasion of Iraq has put the entire region in jeopardy. The problems there will not be solved by the surge. We will be involved there for years and the toll on the American public will be felt for a long time. The situation is grave, for Americans and for Iraq population as well.
Donna Boelk of Oakfield, Wisconsin
We cannot give up in Iraq. President Bush's statement that if we lose, Iraq will be taken over by the terrorists, Iran and other terrorist groups is right. The plan sounds progressive in that it concentrates more forces in an area held by the enemy. I think we will be in very deep trouble if we give up. We will then have a war on our hands we may not win and our security here will be gone.
Linda Jenkins of Champaign, Illinois
This is not a new plan; it is an escalation of the old plan! My mind tells me that we cannot abandon Iraq until there is some political, military, and economic stabilization in the country because "we" started all this. Actually, Bush did. But my heart and common sense tells me that this is a no-win situation and a ridiculous idea that we can stop terrorism by being in Iraq. We should pull our troops out in an orderly manner beginning immediately.
Ernest Kneeland of Dexter, Maine
The president's plan is a viable, necessary and brave solution to the issues we are facing on the ground in Iraq and in the world. I am appalled that many elected officials in Washington are using this time of national crisis to further their political aspirations. They insist on grandstanding in an effort to promote their respective political futures, while our brave men and women in the armed services are putting their lives and livelihoods in jeopardy to stabilize this explosive region of the world. The politicians seem to either not understand or care about the dire consequences that would undoubtedly follow our enemy gaining a victory.
Thomas Antenucci of Abingdon, Virginia
Too little, too late. The time to go in with massive force was three years ago. Increasing the number of troops by a piddling 15 percent now will do nothing to change the balance of power. It is just an effort by Bush to provide political cover for his total failure in Iraq and to delay the inevitable to the next administration. Remember Nixon's "Peace With Honor" in Vietnam? Thousands more died for nothing -- the same result could have been obtained years earlier.
Janet of Denver, Colorado
I am a retired captain, U.S. Army, of 20 years. The risk to our nation and to our soldiers is too high for America to try to fix the continuous miscalculations. If they want to do a troop increase, make that combination up of other nations and try that for 90 days only with date and timelines. Iraq needs to step up and take the responsibility. We have provided unlimited funding and resources. We will not be there forever.
Dona Khalil of Stockton, California
I think it is stupid to send more troops to Iraq. That will not solve the problem. It will just bring the morale of the troops down even more as well as causing the taxpayers to pay even more money, hurt more families, and cause more young people to find alternative paths to stay away from joining the armed forces. What good is the Medal of Honor for our fallen heroes when they are no longer with us? Can Bush not see the reality of this? If not, have him send his child over there!
Shirlee Valo of Wilsonville, Oregon
George Bush's misguided plan to escalate the war in Iraq is not only dangerous and foolhardy, it is a slap in the face to the Iraq Study Group, to all the generals and military experts who recommended otherwise, and to the American people, who spoke loud and clear in November.
Susan Connelly of Clinton Township, Michigan
I think we need to give this one last chance. We owe it to our soldiers and the Iraqi citizens who have lost lives since our invasion. It was positive that the president admitted mistakes and lessons learned. Let's take this experience and move forward with Iraq doing its fair share in keeping their promises to us. We all know this is a new kind of war and there is unfortunately a costly learning curve. We have a chance to win this. If we back out now we are assured disaster and victory for the enemies of freedom.
Milton Better of Scarsdale, New York
I would like to see the reaction to the plan from our European and Middle Eastern "friends." They have as much, if not more, to lose if this strategy fails. If not in troop support, I would like to see financial and political pledges from them.
Chiks Jude of Aba, Nigeria
Much as I dislike Bush and the Republicans I have to admit that this is one strategy that makes sense. The Democrats must understand that the current state of Iraq is a result of the uncalled for invasion of Iraq. They cannot be postulating that Bush pull out the troops and leave Iraqis to their own devices when the collapse of the social fabric in Iraq was caused by the U.S.
Keith Watenpaugh of Coupeville, Washington
Bush continues to pursue a failed strategy. How can he expect [Iraq's Prime Minister] al-Maliki to rein in those that put him into power? How can a few troops working with Iraqi police and troops control a city of 5+ million that clearly wants the U.S. out of their city? How can we get support of the Sunni area northwest of Baghdad with 4,000 more troops? We have heard this before. It is doomed to fail with further deterioration of respect for the U.S. in the region. More Americans and Iraqis will die and be injured.
Robert McDonnell of Harwich Port, Massachusetts
The president has a heck of a nerve to say what WE are doing isn't working and WE need a new approach. Who is WE? The president has had a blank check for five years to do what he wanted. He attacked Iraq, committed our soldiers and resources to a hopeless cause, and now he wants to put thousands more of our soldiers into the region. The Congress should consider impeachment rather than troop increases.
Bobbie Harrod of West Branch, Michigan
I think that sending more troops isn't going to help. It's just going to cost us more troops. I think that our troops should be coming home. My daughter was born in 2000, and we have been at war for most of her life. It would be nice for her to know what life is like during peace time at least once in her lifetime.
Jeff Hardy of Herndon, Virginia
You have a lot of comments (complaints to be more precise) on the new strategy in Iraq. I wish these folks would offer up their thoughts on possible solutions rather than just complain. If they know what's best, let's hear it. Oh, and pulling out at this point in time is not an option. Look into it and study the history of warfare, and you'll know why. Having been there (Iraq), I, for one, support our president, and the new strategy.
Paul V. of Santa Monica, California
There isn't much that I have supported this president on since he came to office, but there is always a first time for everything. In fact, I think he has been wrong on just about everything since he came to office. However, there is no way we can leave that country to its own devices after invading it and removing its leader (on the wrong premise I may add). It would be unconscionable to do such a thing.
Penny Parisi Abbeville, South Carolina
I do not like the plan at all. I voted for President Bush and now feel very badly that I did because what he said in his speech tonight will send my only son to Iraq. I am very upset and do not want my son to be there and do not believe in the new plan at all.
Judy Wood of Chicago, Illinois
If the president really believes that this new strategy of sending more Americans to Iraq will ensure success, than he and Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, should send their own children to fight on the streets in Baghdad. That would convince me they really believe in this new strategy and understand how precious the life of every soldier is and not just talk about troops in numbers.
Kevin Peterson of Amherst, New York
My reaction to President Bush's new plan for Iraq is reluctant support. I'd love to think there is a better way forward, but apparently all the "experts" in Washington don't have any. The idea of leaving Iraq now relying solely on the Iraqis to fend for themselves seems like the "ignore it, it will go away" methodology used during the Clinton presidency. Obviously the Clinton strategy worked great, it led directly to the 9/11 tragedy.
Susan Whitfield-Lungren of Lindsborg, Kansas
I am deeply saddened by the president's determination to send more Americans to die for what is surely an unwinnable cause. His announced evidence used to justify the invasion of Iraq has been found to be false. But yet he persists in arguing that he is right and everyone who disagrees with him is at best, wrong. Some of us can read and have read enough history of the Mideast to realize we will never be able to achieve his kind of military victory in Iraq, even if the war was justifiable in the first place. Why must our men and women in military (and their families and tens of thousands of Iraqis) be sacrificed for the sake of his vanity? The emperor still doesn't have any clothes. Why aren't our elected representatives and senators willing to tell him?
Dave Wahlers of Port Clinton, Ohio
I agree with President Bush's plan to increase our military presence in Iraq. We as Americans have the obligation and the duty to maintain a strong military force in Iraq in order to suppress the terrorist movement that threatens the U.S. Additionally, Iraq does not appear strong enough yet to maintain their infrastructure, and if we would withdraw at this time all of our efforts of the last several years could be offset. President Bush's decision is an unpopular decision, but it is the right decision and shows strong leadership.
John Hornsby of Bolivar, Tennessee
If everyone would stop and remember what happen on 9/11 and realize the impact terrorists have, not only on us here in the U.S. but on the people of the world, then they would stop the blaming game and start working together to find a solution to the problem. The people of Iraq need freedom just as much as we need to keep ours. We live in a country where freedom is taken for granted. The Iraq people have never had freedom. Do I believe that we need to stay in Iraq? Yes, I do. We have to finish what we started.
Mark Maynard of Boston, Massachusetts
I was never a fan of this war to begin with but with the state of Iraq as we created it, I agree with the president that we cannot just pick up and leave. That said -- 20,000 troops are not going to bring a close to this war fast enough for the American public. If we truly want to win, we probably need to send at least 100,000 more troops. That would give us a fighting chance at stabilization. If we want to achieve this goal, we need to be willing to pay the price, a big one.
Stewart Bluco of Canton, Ohio
Why do people have to bash the president, no matter what he does? I watched him tonight on air, and I think the plan of action is a good one. Why [do] people vote a negative reaction before we even try the new plan? I think it's just nuts. We can't just take our troops out of Iraq and leave the country. It will end up a home for terrorists to plan their attacks on the world. Is that what we want? We should respect the president, and his plan of action. We need to be united.
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