Out of Iraq

[Ed W]

So in other words, we're not pulling out the troops because of any great effort by our leadership. We're pulling them out because we didn't get what we wanted in a contract negotiation and got pissy.

This probably has more to do with Iraq's internal politics.  A few years ago, one of the military/political analysts predicted that Iraq's governing class would reach a point where they did not want to be seen as puppets of the Americans and at that point we'd be 'asked' to leave.  They're a sovereign country, after all, and we originally were there to liberate the people from the oppressive rule of Saddam and company, not to mention the intent to ferret out all those supposed Al Queda in Iraq.  Despite that load of bollocks, we remained as an occupying force.

The Iraqi people were happy to see American troops arrive.  They'll be equally happy to see them depart. 

[RecycleMichael]

This conflict has been going on for 1,400 years. Eight years of America's meddling didn't make a difference.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunni_and_Shiite
The historic background of the Sunni–Shia split lies in the schism that occurred when the Islamic prophet Muhammad died in the year 632.

[guido911]

I would like the U.S. to declare victory, which we did.

[carltonplace]

I would like the U.S. to declare victory, which we did.

I never thought our post mission accomplished party would last 8 years. Speaking of Victory; when do we get our spoils? Does every American get one or just the ones that funded the war though a tax increa.. wait, never mind.

[Conan71]

I would like the U.S. to declare victory, which we did.

Can't do that Harry Reid already declared we lost the war there.  Remember?

[TulsaMoon]

President Obama announces all U.S. troops will be out of Iraq by the end of the year.

Hooray.

This is important to me. Very important. If Obama didn't do this, I would not have supported his re-election.

The agreement, which had been in negotiations since 2007, set a timetable calling for most U.S. troops to leave Iraqi towns and cities by June 30, 2009, with about 50,000 troops left in place until the final withdrawal of all U.S. military forces by Dec. 31, 2011.

http://usiraq.procon.org/sourcefiles/SOFA-11-19-08.pdf

[RecycleMichael]

Yes. I knew that. Obama kept to the timetable to withdraw troops, despite pressure from military leaders to ignore the deadline.