Out of Iraq

[RecycleMichael]

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.

[Townsend]

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.

"Combat" troops

[Breadburner]

Lol....He's promised alot of things......

[we vs us]

"Combat" troops

Actually....

About 39,000 U.S. troops are in Iraq, and the U.S. had wanted to keep from 3,000 to 5,000 troops in Iraq past 2011. But the current Status of Forces Agreement with Iraq dictates the U.S. troops leave by year's end, and the United States and Iraq had been unable to come to an agreement on key issues regarding legal immunity for U.S. troops who would remain in Iraq, effectively ending discussion of maintaining a significant American force presence beyond 2011.

Of the 39,000 troops in Iraq, only about 150, a negligible force, will remain to assist in arms sales.

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/21/source-almost-all-u-s-troops-out-of-iraq-by-years-end/?hpt=hp_c1

[Townsend]

Actually....


http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/21/source-almost-all-u-s-troops-out-of-iraq-by-years-end/?hpt=hp_c1

My rational side will take your word for it but the paranoid in me sees secret US troops stationed all over the place.

[we vs us]

My rational side will take your word for it but the paranoid in me sees secret US troops stationed all over the place.

Oh well sure.  In no way did I mean to insinuate that we'd have no Green Berets/Rangers/Delta Force/Drone fleets in-country (or in Stealth Boats floating in darkness offshore).  I only meant that all the National Guard guys will finally get to come home and try to put their lives back together finally, and in a number that seems by all accounts much large than initially thought. 

Really, it's better news than anticipated. 

[RecycleMichael]

My rational side will take your word for it but the paranoid in me sees secret US troops stationed all over the place.

There is one watching you as you read this. Over there, behind that plant.

[we vs us]

There is one watching you as you read this. Over there, behind that plant.

My sources say he's behind that rock.  No, no, the one on the left.  

EDIT:  The other left. 

[Conan71]

Of the 39,000 troops in Iraq, only about 150, a negligible force, will remain to assist in arms sales.

Hell they can just move the ATF Phoenix crew over to Iraq for that job.  I hear they have pretty good experience with arms sales.

[dbacks fan]

Hell they can just move the ATF Phoenix crew over to Iraq for that job.  I hear they have pretty good experience with arms sales.

Winner!!!

[sgrizzle]

About 39,000 U.S. troops are in Iraq, and the U.S. had wanted to keep from 3,000 to 5,000 troops in Iraq past 2011. But the current Status of Forces Agreement with Iraq dictates the U.S. troops leave by year's end, and the United States and Iraq had been unable to come to an agreement on key issues regarding legal immunity for U.S. troops who would remain in Iraq, effectively ending discussion of maintaining a significant American force presence beyond 2011.

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.

[heironymouspasparagus]

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.

Don't matter what the reason.  What matters is that we get out.

[Gaspar]

I am happy for this but I am also hopeful that this doesn't cause destabilization.  Now that Iran is posturing, I'm sure they will (already are) happy to move in and claim their new prize.

[Breadburner]

I am happy for this but I am also hopeful that this doesn't cause destabilization.  Now that Iran is posturing, I'm sure they will (already are) happy to move in and claim their new prize.

Maybe we are slow playing them.....

[sgrizzle]

Don't matter what the reason.  What matters is that we get out.

I'm all for getting out, I'm just pointing out that the result is more coincidental to our current administration than incidental.