Gates Says US Air Force May Remain in Iraq Beyond 2011

[Hissyspit]

Source: Voice of America

Gates Says US Air Force May Remain in Iraq Beyond 2011

Al Pessin | Forward Operating Base Warrior, near Kirkuk, northern Iraq 11 December 2009

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the U.S. Air Force will likely continue to have a role in Iraq after all U.S. troops are currently scheduled to leave at the end of 2011, under a U.S.-Iraqi agreement signed last year. Gates spoke to U.S. troops at Forward Operating Base Warrior, near Kirkuk, northern Iraq.

U.S. officials say they are on track to end the U.S. ground combat role and reduce from 120,000 troops to 50,000 by next October, and to have all U.S. troops out of Iraq by the end of 2011. But Secretary Gates said that might not include the U.S. Air Force.

- snip -

Secretary Gates said there has been no agreement to keep Air Force units in Iraq beyond 2011, nor even any formal discussion. But he indicated that while the Iraqi Army and Police are taking more and more responsibility for security around the country, Iraq's air capability lags well behind.

Gates also predicted that the U.S. Air Force will have a long-term role in Afghanistan, beyond the five years or more that allied ground forces are expected to be operating there.

Read more: http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/middle-east/11dec09-iraq-gates-79050007.html

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Hissyspit]

2. "Leftbaggers"

Stupid shitty term. I think you mean "people with legitimate concerns about the United States' use of military force." I know it's not as catchy.

[Goldstein1984]

4. "Leftbaggers" isn't very catchy either.

We're going to be mired in the Middle East and Central Asia for the long term. You don't just walk away from empire.

[Bragi]

12. Present and accounted for, sir

Notice how this happens every time the Bush-Obama Secretary for Defence reveals new parts of his plan for endless war?

[Captain Hilts]

3. The AF is probably lobbying for this as their reason for existing is under debate.

The Navy's aviation wing is much more mobile with fewer political logistics than ground-based aircraft.

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

5. Only by those partial to the Navy...

... the Air Force is the high tech leader of the all the armed services. The only time I duck my head when a plane flies over is if I know it is a Navy plane. (An old Air Force folks inside joke, see, I can type them out, too.)

[Captain Hilts]

6. True. But in terms of fighter aircraft, the future of the AF's mission is being

discussed.

The AF and Navy got totally screwed by GWBush. I think he was afraid of smart people.

[TwilightGardener]

7. Um, no. Air Force will exist, unless the Navy starts being able to land

C-17's on a carrier.

[Captain Hilts]

8. The AF's mission in tactical fighters is a bit dodgy. nt

[TwilightGardener]

9. They're going to move to more and more unmanned craft, that's true.

But AF still does air mobility, NORAD, space command, nukes-n-bombers, missiles--I mean, I just don't see the AF going anywhere.

[Captain Hilts]

14. Yes, but they'll be more focused on strategic rather than tactical.

The Navy, too, is seeing the advantage of drones for a lot of missions.

[peacetalksforall]

18. It's obvious why the AF is the division to stay in Iraq - it's for the conversion = Moslem to

Christian. They are now warriors of GOD on God's Mission.

[avaistheone1]

10. I see, more backpedaling from the Obama administration on the 2011 pullout date.

Figures.

[Bragi]

11. But their role will be limited to intimidating everyone in the region...

With occasional bombing runs, as required.

Nothing to see here, move along.

[pjt7]

13. 9.11 truth ends the endless wars

Face the Fact America, We have been hood-winked.

[Algorem]

15. this "superpower" bit can't last much longer

how much did this great "superpower" have to pay Iraqis so this great "superpower" could "win"

[Kolesar]

16. Can we sell their real estate in Dayton and Omaha and redevelop it?

If they are going to stay?

[hayu_lol]

17. We have to use those 14 airbases Feckless George...

built...and defend them as well.

[classysassy]

19. Guess who came to dinner

and refused to leave?.

[Gregorian]

20. It's OUR money. I have a suggestion people. Let's stop paying taxes.

We have the power to shut this mess down. We sit here year after year wondering if Pelosi can find a table. Why Harry Reid sends stern letters to Karl Rove. Why Cheney got away with murdering a million human beings.

We have the power. We foot the bill. And we can stop.

[HERVEPA]

21. I'm shocked. Shocked!