Goodbye Iraq: Last US Combat Brigade Heads Home

[cal04]

Goodbye Iraq: As Obama's withdrawal deadline nears, last US combat brigade heads home
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=11432471

As their convoy reached the barbed wire at the border crossing out of Iraq on Wednesday, the soldiers whooped and cheered. Then they scrambled out of their stifling hot armored vehicles, unfurled an American flag and posed for group photos.

For these troops of the 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, it was a moment of relief fraught with symbolism. Seven years and five months after the U.S.-led invasion, the last American combat brigade was leaving Iraq, well ahead of President Barack Obama's Aug. 31 deadline for ending U.S. combat operations there.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division was officially designated the last combat brigade to leave Iraq under Obama's plan to end combat operations in Iraq by Aug. 31. Associated Press writer Rebecca Santana joined the troops on their final journey out of the country.

[provis99]

1. so the 50,000 troops left are just Vietnam era-style "advisers"?

[lamp_shade]

3. No dear... read > >

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8971501

[provis99]

7. your link confirms they are Vietnam era-style "advisors"

"...a residual force will remain in Iraq and in the region to conduct targeted counter-terrorism missions against al Qaeda in Iraq and to protect American diplomatic and civilian personnel

exactly as Vietnam era-style "advisors" fought Vietcong guerillas 1954-1964.

[Mz Pip]

4. I'll bet they still

are just as prepared for combat as the ones who left.

[Common Sense Party]

8. I sure as hell hope so...as they are going to be targeted A LOT

[bdamomma]

2. can we breathe again a long sigh of relief

50,000 still there, now can we leave Afghanistan????

[readmoreoften]

5. BULLSHIT. THE 3RD ACR IS DEPLOYING FT. HOOD. THEY ARE A COMBAT UNIT.

I'M SO SICK OF THIS DISINFORMATION. I DIDN'T ACCEPT IT UNDER BUSH AND I REFUSE TO ACCEPT IT NOW.

[provis99]

9. just checked; you're right.

god dang, the Pentagon is full of filthy liars.

[jbfam4]

6. History in the making

The only station with live coverage is msnbc...Rachael Maddow is in the International Zone formerly called the Green Zone. Richard Engle is traveling with the troops.

[Gin]

11. NBC had a correspondent with the last group leaving Iraq and

he said the 50 thousand still there will be a training mission but combat ready if needed....a Medal of Honor winner was on the show and said he was also in that capacity in Vietnam (last group)and he said they had combat every day...and he hoped it would be different for the 50k left behind.

[alarimer]

10. Good fucking riddance

Time for ALL the war criminals to be held accountable for the slaughter of untold thousands of Iraqis. We are ALL war criminals, by the way, for not stopping this before it started. Of course, Bush and company are the real culprits but we are all complicit in some way, especially those who voted for the war criminals.

[depakid]

14. This administration doesn't do accountability...

and in other "out of sight out of mind" news:

6 Killed in Iraq Violence

unmen shot three people dead and a roadside bomb killed two more in Iraq Wednesday in a streak of violence that has hit the nation as U.S. troops prepare to end their combat operations.

On Wednesday, officials say gunmen killed three people outside their homes in Diyala province.

Also, a bomb blast near a courthouse in the northern city of Tikrit killed two people and wounded at least two others. Officials say at least one of the victims killed was a security officer.

The attacks come one day after a suicide bomber killed nearly 60 people and left 125 injured at an army recruitment station in Baghdad.

http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/middle-east/6-Killed-in-Iraq-Violence-100978509.html

[WilliamPitt]

12. Honestly never thought I'd see the day

We have to get the rest out, and that soon, but this is big.

[democrank]

13. Bring all our troops home and send

the far right`s heroes over to take their place.... five-deferment Cheney and his AWOL sidekick Junior Bush.

[Safetykitten]

15. Conversation at US Embassy/Mall of America

So, I hear we are leaving?

Yup, heard that too.

[Scurrilous]

16. K & R

:thumbsup: