text: There would be no lasting damage from the troops being progressively pulled out over a period of time. Although there are certain people who will bemoan that doing so would be a win for the terrorists, it would not be. It is unlikely that terrorists (international ones at least) make up any more than 5-10% of the insurgency in Iraq. The great majority of insurgent fighters in Iraq are from within the country. If the US and its allies were to progressively pull out of Iraq will still training the Iraqi forces and bringing in neighbouring countries to aid with stability there is no reason to believe that the insurgency would not die down and sought itself out. Fighting between Shiite's and Sunni's will not stop because the troops leave, in fact, it may even get worse, but the they have been fighting for hundreds of years all around the world. Leaving the country would however take away a big reason for their fighting in the first place and maybe open up a common ground avenue for them to begin talks to re-establish some sought of working government within their own country.