US troops to exit Iraq by August 2010

US troops to exit Iraq by August 2010

news.yahoo.com

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama plans to order that all U.S. combat troops be withdrawn from Iraq by August 2010, administration officials said Tuesday, ending the war that defined his upstart presidential campaign three months later than he had promised.

Obama's plan would pull out all combat troops 19 months after his inauguration, although he had promised repeatedly during the 2008 campaign that he would withdraw them 16 months after taking office. That schedule, based on removing roughly one brigade a month, was predicated on commanders determining that it would not endanger U.S. troops left behind or Iraq's fragile security.

Pledging to end the war in 16 months helped to build enormous grass-roots support for Obama's White House bid.

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Is it too quick? Can the iraqi government stand on its own? As Colin powel said you broke it you own it. If we fail to leave a viable governmnet for the people by the poeple, we basically are ceeding the country in its entirety to Iran. I want our troops out, but it needs to be well thought out and right for the are at this stage of the game. We cannot turn back the failures of Bush, Rummy et al. but we do not need to make them worse either.

news.yahoo.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

reply to post by FredT


I agree, we broke it, we fix it. But do you honestly think that the Obama cabinet cares? If Iraq fails, they can simply blame Bush.

reply to post by jerico65


You know, that's all too true as sad as it is. That's probably exactly what they intend on doing as well.

I don't think we need to pull completely out in 19 months. There should be at least a combined force left to help the Iraqi government/military get all the way on its feet before we up and leave.

Plus, we need to factor in what the Iraqis think as well.

Did You See Just How Many Troops There are in Iraq OVERALL?!

150,00 approx American Troops, and about 111,000 soldier contractors.

That's 261,000 troops, that's like 1 soldier for every 20 Iraqi's. The Military has far better kill capacity should they choose too, than home-grown militants.

This is nothing more than an occupation, killing any who don't like it.

Wow.

-ADHD

Any mention of the 'non-combat' soldiers that will remain; or our multi-billion dollar bases to be 'given' to the American 'security' contractors to use? Will we simply abandon that which cost us billions behind, and move on the Afghanistan?

By the way, how many of these soldiers, withdrawn from Iraq will end up in the OTHER armpit of hell?

We MUST cease to allow OUR federal government to express itself imperialistically. That cost is simply beyond us, especially if they intend to continue to allow the Transnational Financial Cartel to milk us of our wealth.

Expect for leaving a training and advisory force all the indicators point to Obama plan of action being the correct one . The war in Afghanistan is in dire need of the manpower that has been so effectively tied down in Iraq . The Iraqi government is in surplus and should by all rights be paying for the reconstruction of the country it governs . If the Iraqi army and other security forces cant cope with the much improved security situation then they are never going to be able to cope .

Originally posted by jerico65
[I agree, we broke it, we fix it. But do you honestly think that the Obama cabinet cares? If Iraq fails, they can simply blame Bush.

Isreal will have a total cow if we pull out and Iran is allowed to gain controll over Iraq. There would be no doubt that they would feel compelled to strike Irans nuclear installations in light of self defence concerns.

Even though it is good news that Obama will have them out by time, we all know that everything is subject to change just like his campaign promises. I really think this is just Obama's best case scenario. As previous stated by another poster, most of the ones pulling out will ultimately end up in Afghanistan.

Please do not overlook that this is a fluid and situation adjustable plan that still will leave @ 50,000 US troops in Iraq. Also there is no language that addresses contractors and civilian advisers.

If Korea, Bosnia, etc... are any measure, we will have citizens at risk there for a very long time.

There was also a mention bu Obama at the Congress address regarding the war in Afghanistan and PAKISTAN.

Our current rules of engagement agreement with Pakistan only allows for pursuit 10 miles into their country.

I agree with the assessment about Israel throwing a hissy fit.

Originally posted by ADHDsux4me
Did You See Just How Many Troops There are in Iraq OVERALL?!

150,00 approx American Troops, and about 111,000 soldier contractors.

That's 261,000 troops, that's like 1 soldier for every 20 Iraqi's. The Military has far better kill capacity should they choose too, than home-grown militants.

This is nothing more than an occupation, killing any who don't like it.

Wow.

-ADHD

There are no 'soldier contractors'. They are security personnel.

How is it an occupation if the democratically elected government of Iraq has begged us not to leave?

Note Obama's plan is to withdraw combat troops, not all troops.

Reality:

Obama will withdrawl from Iraq...
Fight in Afghan to prove he is tough for about 4 years more. Pull out.

Then in about 30 years, when the kids of Iraq grow up to tell stories to their kids about it and the middle age people today who LIVED through it have all died....

It will be just like Vietnam, to the next generation.

Blamed on Bush...
Forgotten. Eventually.

The US will never ever fully leave Iraq. We have allowed too much to be put into this false "War on Terror."