Obama: US to leave Iraq 'as promised, on schedule'

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"President Barack Obama declared Monday that the Iraq war was nearing an end "as promised and on schedule," touting what he called a success of his administration though it comes amid persistent instability and uncertainty in Iraq.

Obama cited progress toward meeting his deadline of withdrawing all U.S. combat troops from Iraq by the end of this month. A transitional force of 50,000 troops will remain to train Iraqi security forces, conduct counterterrorism operations and provide security for ongoing U.S. civilian efforts. Under an agreement negotiated in 2008 with the Iraqis, all American troops are to be gone from Iraq by the end of next year.

"The hard truth is we have not seen the end of American sacrifice in Iraq," Obama said in a speech to the national convention of the Disabled American Veterans. "But make no mistake, our commitment in Iraq is changing - from a military effort led by our troops to a civilian effort led by our diplomats."

The main focus of Obama's appearance was the move toward fulfillment of Obama's campaign promise to end the Iraq war, a position that perhaps most defined his 2008 candidacy and was key to his base of support in the liberal wing of his party. With pivotal congressional elections approaching, the White House wants to highlight the progress as a success story. Monday's speech was only the first in a series of such events planned for this month, with others to be headlined by the president as well as Vice President Joe Biden and other administration officials."

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/08/02/1757114/obama-to-set-course-for-changing.html#ixzz0yORy8AlC

[CBR]

1. K&R nt

[geek tragedy]

3. delkete

[Oregone]

2. Im glad we are withdrawing troops by calling them "advisors"

That should end our obligations and entanglements there for good.

[geek tragedy]

4. 90,000 troops physically removed from Iraq.

with the other 50,000 out by the end of 2011.

Math is hard.

[Oregone]

5. We definitely brought them home!

And they love their new cots in Afghanistan! Fabulous!

Don't hold your breathe on this one there. Time will tell

[Scurrilous]

10. LOL

:thumbsup:

[no limit]

6. If we really have all troops and "advisors" out by 2011 then huge kudos to Obama for this!

This is a really big "IF".

[niyad]

7. 50,000 troops left, and HOW many contractors? how many security people is state hiring?

[area51]

11. +1

if we're bringing everyone home, why go to the trouble of building bases?

[Warren DeMontague]

8. NOT GOOD ENOUGH! NOT GOOD ENOUGH!

WHY hasn't Obama invented a time machine and gone back and prevented the war in the first place???? Huh?? Huh???

Answer me that, administration apologists!

[Barack2theFuture]

9. which version of which promise?