President Obama: Iraq withdrawal strategy on track

[DCBob]

from NY Times..

WASHINGTON – Nearly eight years after he denounced what he called a “dumb war” in Iraq and nearly two years after he won the White House promising to end it, President Obama on Monday plans to mark the formal end of the combat mission there. While most public attention these past months has focused on Mr. Obama’s expansive and hotly disputed domestic agenda, the military has quietly been making progress toward the goal that first animated his campaign for the presidency: pulling out of Iraq.

By the end of this month, in accordance with the strategy Mr. Obama put in place after taking office, the American force in Iraq will have shrunk from 144,000 to just 50,000 troops. The remaining “advise and assist” brigades will officially focus on supporting and training Iraqi security forces, protecting American personnel and facilities and mounting counterterrorism operations. Those 50,000 troops are due to leave by the end of 2011.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/03/us/politics/03prexy.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

This is good but I wish there were all out of there. But regardless, the President has kept his promise, even his detractors cannot argue with that.. on second thought.. they probably will anyway.

[BeyondGeography]

1. Yes, the bitchers will bitch

But Obama is creating a meaningful fait accompli here. Once these troops are home from Iraq, they won't be going back there, whatever happens politically.

[DCBob]

2. Yes, I agree. I think there is no turning back..

thank goodness.

[Jigglebilly]

24. I guess their redeployment to Afghanistan will be much more merry

right?

[Tarheel_Dem]

3. "on second thought.. they probably will anyway." How did you know?

You need look no further than this very forum. The rules prohibit me from posting a link, but it's being argued that it's nothing more than a dog & pony show. I just love DU, don't you?

[DCBob]

4. Past experience..

yeah, I love DU too except for the occasional lies and exaggerations to discredit the President.

[TheKentuckian]

5. 50k or more than a third of the high water mark and more than half of the average compliment

is not a withdrawal but a reduction in forces and security, counter terrorism, and embedded training operations will continue.

50,000 is still a drain in a stupid exercise. Zero is my number.

[geek tragedy]

6. The rest are scheduled to be out by the end of 2011. nt

[TheKentuckian]

7. and at the end of 2011 I will grant credit, until then we are following Bush's phony status of

status of forces agreement.

We are past 16 months now and talking about that much more.

He better not leave an ice tray by the time he seeks reelection.

[Oregone]

8. "583 deaths from violence in Iraq in April, excepting the Kurdish region."

The SOFA can be subject to revision, as all things are, when "the conditions on the ground change". I wouldn't hold your breath. I would not be surprised if this war is re-escalated in another 5 years, and the "advisors" shift back to military troops

[geek tragedy]

9. It's a phased withdrawal.

2/3 complete now.

[vaberella]

19. Yup. This is good stuff. n/t

[Barack2theFuture]

10. 50,000 "advisors"

:rofl:

:rofl: :rofl:

[DCBob]

11. They are not "advisors".. they are soldiers who will "advise and assist"..

big distinction.. maybe you missed that part since you are rolling around on the floor in apparent delerium.

BTW, welcome nubie.

[Barack2theFuture]

12. trainers and advisors and "assistors"

not combat troops


:rofl:
:rofl: :rofl:

(Anyone alive in 1963 knows how ludicrous this is.)

Thanks for the welcome. This place is kind of crazy.

[DCBob]

13. This place is crazy??

pot kettle black

[Barack2theFuture]

14. whoa! why so hostile?

I meant "crazy" like wild, unpredictable, hard to figure out.

What did I say that was "crazy"? We might disagree about the semantics of the term used to define the Iraq garrison's role, but is that a reason to start calling people names?

[DCBob]

15. not hostile.. why would you say that?

your comments do seem a bit "crazy"... but you have every right to your "crazy" opinion.

[Barack2theFuture]

17. calling the remining 3 divisions of US troops 'advisors' is crazy?

their mission is to train and assist Iraq's own defense and police forces.

What the fuck ever.

[sandnsea]

16. We're at Jan 73

Not 63.

We're hoping to prevent a replay of 1975.

[Barack2theFuture]

18. probably an apt description, but from the standpoint of the remaining 50,000

being "advisors" only, it's like 1963

[Ikonoklast]

28. We currently have 68,000 troops in

...Germany.




No one seems to be hyperventilating over that number, and the associated costs.

[Barack2theFuture]

38. no one? really?

no one questions our defense budget? really?

no one has said that we should bring ALL troops home and close ALL foreign bases? really?

damn. that's weird.

[rug]

21. .

?w=250&h=189

[Jigglebilly]

20. and....how many will be redeployed to Afghanistan?

sigh

[DCBob]

22. Not sure, but even if they were whats wrong with that?

That would be another fulfilled campaign promise.

[Jigglebilly]

23. HA..touche my fine sir

I guess I should smile and glory in all the wonderful progress. Mmmmm catfood next on the menu....

On edit: oh wait you're serious. You see nothing wrong with redeploying them then?

[DCBob]

25. Afghanistan is a different issue. I think it was the legitimate war.

but after 8 years, I do think its about time to get out. We really cant afford it anymore and our presence there may be causing more problems than its solving. But for now, Obama has made a commitment and he intends to keep it. I support that.

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

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

[DCBob]

27. I can assure I am not attached to a "cult of persnonality"..

pathetic personal attack.

[Jigglebilly]

30. alert me then.

I still think your reasons to support this war are naive. Just because Obama supports something doesn't make it a good thing. You've made that allusion twice in your responses to me. I made the logical connection, íf you're comfortable in your support that certainly shouldn't threaten you. Sheesh, touchy touchy lol

[DCBob]

31. Actually its more like the President knows a helluva alot more about this situation than I do..

and maybe even more than you do. And it you dont understand that then you are naive one.

[Jigglebilly]

32. LOL your arguments are jumping down the rabbit hole

I guess because neither one of us is POTUS we are unable to formulate educated opinions about foreign policy? Wow. He might have intelligence briefings but the neoliberal slant of his foreign policy was realized when he chose his Bushtastic Cabinet. But you just keep on keepin' on...like I said I'm obviously not changing your mind about anything so at this point bouncing off of you is just for my own idle amusement. Which is not very nice, so I'm gonna stop. Cheers.

[DCBob]

33. rabbit hole?? BTW, welcome to DU.. I see you just joined a few days ago..

Do you really think you can change someone's mind by posting a few lines on a discussion board?? Wow, that is naive.

[Jigglebilly]

34. Umm, no I don't and I've said it twice now.

Derf.

[DCBob]

35. I know you gave up on me.. but seems your intent was to change my mind..

derf back.. whatever the hell that means??

[Jigglebilly]

36. I don't know where you're getting that from but it's certainly a raw nerve with you

I'm sorry you're so sensitive about the possibility that people on a public forum disagree with you and your faith in the administration. Truly.

You can get the last dig in if you want and "win". Ciao!

[DCBob]

37. You are real tool! Enjoy your stay here.

ciao!

[vaberella]

29. Well that's questionable. Mainly b/c Obama has removed troops in certain locations.

This was reported on a Richard Engels' report on the locations of particular troops. One part of Afghanistan had US troops and when Obama took office they were removed from there and the officers were sent home. Not only that Obama has so far reported to us when he's increased and decreased troops. This is not during the time of LBJ. If he increases we'll find out. So far---most people on this site weren't even aware of the draw down. They ignored it, and I know this because I was giving the 2-3 reports that actually said we were drawing down. However, I find the increase unlikely since Obama is still sticking to the draw down of troops in Afghanistan in July of 2011.