"We oppose this war." - Front page of DU, March 20, 2003.

[grahamhgreen]

"The United States stands virtually alone in the world right now. The actions of the current administration have alienated the vast majority of people on this planet."

- Front page of DU, March 20, 2003.


Thanks for putting this up, DU admins! (http://www.democraticunderground.com/10th/index_special_05.html)

Why does Commander in Chief refuse to remove the troops from Iraq, when the majority of Americans,not just Democrats, want us out of Iraq (and Afghanistan)?

It is because he refuses to represent the will of the people who elected him, that he should either step down, or at least get primaried.

[dionysus]

1. you're asking for him to resign now?

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[grahamhgreen]

3. How many Americans should die for the corrupt Islamic Republic we

set up in Iraq?

How many children?

Who is responsible?

[dionysus]

4. you should stick with not understanding what a risk pool is...

[grahamhgreen]

5. You should answer the questions.

[girl gone mad]

12. Excessive rofls..

the last refuge of fools.

[closeupready]

16. And spoiled children.

n/t

[GSLevel9]

2. who knows??

His anti-war talk was just hot air I guess.

Not only are US soldiers STILL there, but dying as well and at a rapid clip.

icasualties.org

So far this year, 22 dead US soldiers in 22 days.

"Meet the new boss..." right?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. But..but..it would be sooo embarrassing to admit to two lost wars. K&R

[GSLevel9]

7. there was a time frame when an exit could have been cloaked as a victory.

That time is past...

[damntexdem]

8. A great bumper sticker I've seen: "I already oppose the next war."

[peace13]

9. Obama campaigned that he loved him some Afghan war so....

while your argument in good for Iraq it does not stand on the Afghanistan issues. I am against all wars but I do want the campaign rhetoric to reflect what the man said on his run to the White House.

[TheWraith]

10. You mean those troops that are leaving Iraq as we speak?

Where more than two thirds of them have already left?

This is a new record in Obama-bashing via creating an alternate universe.

[grahamhgreen]

11. No, I mean the 50,000 who are remaining, & the 100,000+ contractors unfortunately... (link & stats)

Editing in bonus pre-rebuttal rebuttal:

" Meanwhile, Sadrist lawmaker Jawad Kadhum said that the US was trying to find "alternatives" to the withdrawal agreement, adding that his party was not open to such reconsiderations.

"They are occupiers that are taking away the wealth of Iraq. As long as there is an American soldier or any presence or any U.S. military vehicle in Iraq, it will be disturbing us and all Iraqis that are looking for their freedom," Kadhum added. "

http://www.sify.com/news/us-committed-to-withdraw-troops-from-iraq-by-end-of-2011-biden-news-international-lbonaiaiiee.html?tag=Topnews




TROOPS IN IRAQ

Troops in Iraq - Total 48,000 U.S. troops as of Nov 30, 2010. All other nations have withdrawn their troops.

U.S. Troop Casualties - 4,433 US troops; 98% male. 91% non-officers; 82% active duty, 11% National Guard; 74% Caucasian, 9% African-American, 11% Latino. 19% killed by non-hostile causes. 54% of US casualties were under 25 years old. 72% were from the US Army

Non-U.S. Troop Casualties - Total 316, with 179 from the UK

US Troops Wounded - 32,006, 20% of which are serious brain or spinal injuries. (Total excludes psychological injuries.)

US Troops with Serious Mental Health Problems - 30% of US troops develop serious mental health problems within 3 to 4 months of returning home


IRAQI TROOPS, CIVILIANS & OTHERS IN IRAQ

Private Contractors in Iraq, Working in Support of US Army Troops - More than 180,000 in August 2007, per The Nation/LA Times.

Journalists killed - 145, 97 by murder and 47 by acts of war

Journalists killed by US Forces - 14

Iraqi Police and Soldiers Killed - 9,818

Iraqi Civilians Killed, Estimated - On October 22, 2010, ABC News reported "a secret U.S. government tally that puts the Iraqi (civilian) death toll over 100,000," information that was included in more than 400,000 military documents released by Wikileaks.com.

A UN issued report dated Sept 20, 2006 stating that Iraqi civilian casualties have been significantly under-reported. Casualties are reported at 50,000 to over 100,000, but may be much higher. Some informed estimates place Iraqi civilian casualities at over 600,000.



QUALITY OF LIFE INDICATORS

Iraqis Displaced Inside Iraq, by Iraq War, as of May 2007 - 2,255,000

Iraqi Refugees in Syria & Jordan - 2.1 million to 2.25 million

Iraqi Unemployment Rate - 27 to 60%, where curfew not in effect

Consumer Price Inflation in 2006 - 50%

Iraqi Children Suffering from Chronic Malnutrition - 28% in June 2007 (Per CNN.com, July 30, 2007)

Percent of professionals who have left Iraq since 2003 - 40%

Iraqi Physicians Before 2003 Invasion - 34,000

Iraqi Physicians Who Have Left Iraq Since 2005 Invasion - 12,000

Iraqi Physicians Murdered Since 2003 Invasion - 2,000

Average Daily Hours Iraqi Homes Have Electricity - 1 to 2 hours, per Ryan Crocker, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq (Per Los Angeles Times, July 27, 2007)

Average Daily Hours Iraqi Homes Have Electricity - 10.9 in May 2007

Average Daily Hours Baghdad Homes Have Electricity - 5.6 in May 2007

Pre-War Daily Hours Baghdad Homes Have Electricity - 16 to 24

Number of Iraqi Homes Connected to Sewer Systems - 37%

Iraqis without access to adequate water supplies - 70% (Per CNN.com, July 30, 2007)

Water Treatment Plants Rehabilitated - 22%

RESULTS OF POLL Taken in Iraq in August 2005 by the British Ministry of Defense (Source: Brookings Institute)

Iraqis "strongly opposed to presence of coalition troops - 82%

Iraqis who believe Coalition forces are responsible for any improvement in security - less than 1%

Iraqis who feel less ecure because of the occupation - 67%

Iraqis who do not have confidence in multi-national forces - 72%




http://usliberals.about.com/od/homelandsecurit1/a/IraqNumbers.htm

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/world/140378/obama_has_250%2C000_%27contractors%27_deployed_in_iraq_and_afghanistan_and_is_increasing_the_use_of_mercenaries

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. +1

[MessiahRp]

14. Damn! Great rebuttal.

Those are pretty damning numbers.

Rp

[xchrom]

15. +3