Hey guys.

Thanks for the laugh, I found this thread to be a riot.

The US is staying...

"Damned Warmongers/Bankers OIL Yadda Yadda Blah Blah Blah"


The US is leaving....

"Damned Warmongers/Bankers Disinfo Yadda Yadda Blah Blah Blah"


I'll stop back by when you're finished falling all over yourselves and get the story straight.

So are all the people whining about "war" going to stop driving their cars, so we don't have to get involved in the affairs of oil countries anymore? Any of you going to stop crying about the price of gas anytime soon, so the government doesn't constant;y keep doing deals with the devil to try and keep prices down? Any of the chronic complainers who are so morally opposed to this, checking to make sure they aren't putting any gas in their cars that came from Iraq oil, when they go to the gas station? How about you non US people... You asking the guy at the station where that gas came from when you go to fill up, so you can make sure you're not supporting the alleged hideous, terrible things us warmonger Americans are doing?

Yeah, I didn't think so.

I mean, we still have forces in Germany and Japan and Korea and many other places. Unless an isolationist gets into power, we're not leaving anywhere anytime soon.

There's a simple rule. If the US comes to visit, it won't leave. That's not bad nor good. It's just a fact of the last near 100 years of military policy.

And considering our track record of, you know, not leaving a country in civil war and anarchy like our European friends, I'd say its more on the favor of good than bad. But now that money is tight, I can see reasons for leaving areas that have no need for our presence, such as Germany and elsewhere. Iraq? Well I'm not too sure. We have promised them our new Abrams went it comes out in a few years. So I suppose that's at least a hint that we don't plan to leave until 2030ish.

Originally posted by kn0wh0w

it would be time for the USA (and other countries) too pull out of Iraq and Afghanistan, spend the money at home.

on better healthcare and schooling for starters...

No part of my current paycheck comes from Iraq, so spending or not spending money there will have no bearing on my healthcare.

Now then, I distinctly saw "non-combat U.S. forces" in the quoted text, so I'm not sure where all the "endless wars" advocates are getting that, right out of the gate.

Theories for staying:

We broke, it we bought and we have not glued this bad boy back together yet.

Strategic position right next door to Iran.

The President typically has a lower security clearance than some the good ole folks in the military industrial complex. I hope this is no longer true. We protested against this. The argument is that people work for 30 years in the military and an 8 year presidency...well, you get the drift. The President is already taking hits from the right and the Pentagon for agreeing to de-fund.

Pennetta is long time hawk, our real dove is Patraeus. Why switch boats in the middle of the stream? Gates is gone and its clear the President wants this to be an Intelligence, Special Ops and technology war. Their cheaper and less people die. Or so I am told.

As for the economy, yeah, lets put more people out of work. Some would argue...

This table talk I have heard...I have researched nothing. But it looks like I better.

Get used to hearing "Office of Security Cooperation - Iraq" As it stands now the troops will be attached to that, which in turn is attached to the US Embassy.

The State Dept will have 10-12 facilities throughout Iraq in which troops will be assigned to as "trainers". Some of the facilities will include large airfields like Kirkuk, Erbil, Basrah and part of Baghdad airport.