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Obama Pulling Troops From Iraq by End of Year
WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama announced that the U.S. will pull out all of its troops from Iraq by the end of December, drawing the nine-year war to a conclusion.
U.S. Army soldiers make their way to a C-130 aircraft at Sather Air Base in Baghdad to begin their journey home on Aug 2. (Associated Press) The announcement signals the imminent end of a war that has cost the U.S. more than $800 billion dollars and claimed the lives of 3,525 American service members.
Obama administration officials had considered extending the U.S. troop presence beyond the end of the year, leaving a force of between 3,000 and 5,000 for contingencies. The proposal was controversial, dividing administration officials. But the president's announcement will settle the debate and spell an end to the U.S. troop presence.
Military leaders wanted to keep a presence in Iraq to serve as a training role, and a deterrent to Iranian meddling in Iraq's affairs.
But negotiations with a divided Iraqi government foundered over the issue of whether U.S. forces should be given a measure of immunity from Iraq laws while serving in the country. The military routinely demands such protections as a condition of deploying troops abroad, but Iraqi officials balked.
Even with a full troop withdrawal, a very small number of military personnel will remain in Baghdad and at U.S. diplomatic facilities to help Iraq with matters such as purchases of American weapons systems, including Abrams tanks and F-16 fighters. But there will be no long-term military-led training program.
Mr. Obama held a secure conference call Friday morning with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, in which the president and Mr. Maliki "strongly agreed that this is the best way forward for both countries," a White House official said.
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Show AllHe cut the corporate middlemen out of the college loan program -- saving tens of millions of dollars that were annually being siphoned off to unnecessary corporate middlemen, and lowering the loan rates for millions of college students. He created the Consumer Protection Agency (over the howls of Republicans). There's two damn things.
Wow, a more efficient way to impose indentured servitude on the next generation, and a largely powerless agency (that's the one to which he refused to appoint Elizabeth Warren, right?). You forgot to mention gay couples in the annual White House Easter Egg Hunt.
Cut the middle men... 'saving tens of millions of dollars'....
So tell me, if I were to ask the average college student about tuition fees, and how today's fees compare to the cost of education back in the 70s for example, would they say that Obama is doing enough to look out for them?
I wonder if the millions of students now deep in debt, and unable to find a job want to go up to Obama and give him a firm handshake for all he's done? Or would they more likely want to deck him, and anyone else who focuses on Wall Street's welfare, far more than the welfare of future generations, and the lower and middle classes in general?
What if I were to go up to the average young black American, and ask him or her how Obama's been looking out for them? Last time I checked, Obama's administration has been a boon only for Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan... as for black America, he's been nothing but a bust.
Finally, tell me why Obama passed up Elizabeth Warren to head the CFPB? Maybe because he knew that this bureau was not intended to ever have any real teeth... He knew that it was just one more false front to prop up the false notion that Washington has any power or will to prosecute malfeasance.. or to stand up to the entrenched interests of Wall Street. Props and poses. That's the only game this hope destroyer has.
GOOD WORK guy's keep the FACTS COMING! the best way to kill a troll!! >^^<
My hero, Obama. Um, yeah, right, whatever you say.
This is a pointless discussion, so I'm outta here. But, hey -- you guys have a grand old time out-doing each other in your lefter-than-thou put-downs. The left excels at nothing more than forming itself into circular firing squads ... which is entertaining for awhile, but it just gets depressing after 40 years of being politically marginalized and too disorganized to affect any meaningful change.
You kids have fun, now, and please try not to burn down the house while I'm gone.
Can't admit Obama's a bummer, can you?
Great try Don - I'm with you - but the majority of the CD posters would still find a way to criticize the President even if he made Dennis Kucinich Secretary of State and put Ralph Nader in charge of the Treasury.
Yes, they built a ridiculously huge embassy in Iraq - something that had nothing to do with Obama but what is he supposed to do? Not protect the Americans who work there. I have heard maybe 150-200 soldiers will remain to offer security to the embassy. So, I guess that doesn't count as withdrawing. Just hilarious.
And of course the Common Dreams headline to the article has to be snarky rather than report the facts neutrally. The posters here at CD operate on the naive belief that everyone in the Obama Administration walks in lock-step with each other rather than the reality that there are major disagreements within the administration on major policy issues. I have no doubt that given that Obama made this a key campaign promise, it was his argument all along to get the troops out. He's done it so CD posters - try and keep the Obama bashing down even for just one weekend, can you?
...would still find a way to criticize the President even if he made Dennis Kucinich Secretary of State and put Ralph Nader in charge of the Treasury
I have seen this said before. All I can say is, LETS TRY IT AND SEE, shall we? That'll be the day. ..I am as cynical as everyone else because I too remember the size of that embassy and noted the vagueness of the number to be left behind. And because I remember when "peace was at hand" in Vietnam, three days before an election--I was only 18 then but cynical enough to wonder if they actually thought Americans would buy something that obvious. Which it turned out they were--it was years after that before they got the last troops out.
So yes--we'll be happy to cut down on the Obama bashing in honor of his ending even one war (but he's ramped up another and started two or three, so...)--WHEN WE ACTUALLY SEE IT.
Ok, so being knee deep in blood in 5 countries is automatically forgiven when you create a few phony baloney financial reforms that can't raise the dead? You don't think those places might have reason to be, oh , I don't know...a little resentful?
"Name ONE damn thing this poser has done that is truly in the interest of We The People, and not the 1%..."
He can't. Or he will pull out one of the tired "victories" of the Obama admin - like "healthcare reform" or what-have-you - and ignore the flip-side of that "victory" (i.e., the afore-mentioned actually being nothing more than a huge, multi-billion $ give-away to the health insurance/pharmaceutical industry), which reveals who that "victory" actually rewards. He's either too stupid to see it, or too damned scared to see it. EVERY thing Obama has done - even those that appear to benefit the 99% - actually benefit the 1% if you dig just a millimeter deeper. Obama is a traitor to Amereicha, and needs to be tried, convicted, and locked up.
Wow. You really have drunk deeply of the MSM/MIC kool-aid, haven't ya, Donny-Don? Taste good? Damned straight it does! Helluva lot better than the truth.
Try digging just a bit deeper my boy. Plenty of articles on the web and even here in CD archives about this "withdrawal" of "troops" from Iraq - announced a good year ago - wherein it was also revealed that tens of thousands of "advisers" would remain behind in Iraq "indefinitely." :) They are still Amereichan army, air force, navy, and marine soldiers, but by changing their titles from "troops" to "advisers," Obama got around that pesky little requirement to withdraw all "troops" from Iraq by November, 2011.
But I digress. You're right, Donny-Don. The truth sucks, and drinking the kool-aid of la-la land is much preferable. Ignorance CAN be bliss, if you can succeed in fucking your mind into ignoring the truth. Best of luck to ya.
"Don't forget (Donny), a psychiatrist is on-duty 24 hours a day in the blue room, just up from the parking garage. Drink plenty of water when you take these. Now you can relax and return to your job."
Your post reminded me of that.
I want to shout hooray: but it would be just another cry in the dark! And who will man the many Military bases? Will they be taken over by the Iraq Government? Some will and some won't. And yes, what about the Green zone? Gee whiz, the U$A can afford to pay Haliburton and XE mercenaries a few more billion, I mean the Fed can print money when it wants. Maybe a picture of General Betrayus on a new $1,000 bill. Just think of those freshly printed $1,000 bills lighting up lots of General's Cuban cigars. Yep, money for nothin and death for free!
I think you hit the nail on the head - mercenaries from Xe and Halliburton are not troops per Oily Bomber and the MIC. Those who think that (see commenter above who seems to agree with Donny Don) there will be only 100 to 200 troops to guard the embassy don't need to take any meds. They're already heavily drugged. They choose to ignore the large bases that have to be manned with troops. This is yet another head fake by Oblahblah to pose for the forthcoming elections, that's all. Betrayus will be busy at the CIA cooking up other deals using off budget trillions that he'll dole out to the mercenary corporations.
The only decision Obama made was to abide by the Status of Forces agreement. The removal of all US forces by Dec 31st of 2011 is the result of a Status of Forces Agreement that was ratified by the Iraqi parliament, and approved by the Iraqi Presidency council in December of 2008. This whole thing was negotiated under the Bush admin with Robert Gates leading the negotiations. In a PBS interview Gates openly admitted that even after this Dec 31st 2011 date that the US would still have "several tens of thousands of American troops" stationed there. I mean, duh! They didn't build the largest US embassy and 14 permanent military bases to just be given over to the Iraqis.
Bingo. Thank you Eric.
Eric, You hit the nail on the head. And even Obama didn't want to abide by the Status of Forces agreement as he tried to extend the troop presence there and failed. Nevertheless, your comment will need to be repeated over and over again for the next year as Democrats and Demobots will repeat as an 2012 campaign theme that Obama gets credit for getting the troops out of Iraq (left to be seen what the remaining presence will be).
I posted the same facts on another "liberal" website and I'm being beat to pieces for saying it. Perhaps the Obots should look a little deeper into their history books and see exactly what their man has said and done. Blind loyalty is just as dangerous on either side of the political divide.
We're just going to abandon our extensive network of military bases in Iraq?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Army_installations_in_Iraq
'Skeptical' isn't a strong enough word.
So precisely how many troops will be left on those bases? How many contractors? Where are they?So far, no one has posted anything but rumors-although the Wikipedia article about the Bagdad Embassy is a step in the right direction.
AP says the war lasted nine years. That is incorrect. The US Empire waged war on the Iraqi people from 1990 to 2011--21 years. And prior to that, the Iraqi people were used by the US Empire to wage war on Iran for 8 years, 1980-1988. And the US Empire continued its support for Saddam Hussein from 1988-1990--Two more years--which is the same as saying the US Empire continued assaulting the Iraqi pepole So, the US Empire's WAR on the Iraqi people lasted a total of 31 years--31, not 9. War lasting that long can only be seen as Genocidal, and the poisoning of Iraq via depleted uranium means the assault on the Iraqi people will continue even after Imperial Stormtroopers leave.
Sadr mentioned "compensation," meaning reparations. I'd say the US Empire owes the Iraqis Trillions of Dollars for the past and continuing Genocidal assault they've endured. Indeed, the charge of Genocide must be made agaisnt all US Imperial actors from 1990 to the present. I really hope Sadr pursues that line.
Glad you rememberd that! I forgot, but yes all the "depleated uraniam" and lead we've been tossing about with abandon, not to mention toxic explosive residue! I wouldn't be surprised to see Iraq listed as a UN Superfund site! It'll be decades till the water and soil are safe, not to mention any crops they may try to grow! again thanks for bringing that up! >^^<
As far as depleted uranium is concerned, it's the gift that keeps on giving, at least for the next 4.25 billion to 4.5 billion years! It's in the water, it's in the soil and it's in the food! Talk about your dirty bomb! We really are a kind and giving people, aren't we!
Something about this makes me want to say: "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!"
the curtain of the voting booth.
Who's going to guard the Vatican-sized, billion dollar embassy we built in Iraq? Hmmnn. I think someone's not telling the truth.
Why's everybody forgetting the Giant Military base we built in the North of Iraq 95,000 thousand capicity I read a few years ago, all the homey touches, Stores, resturants, even family housing! Built if memory serves by Halliburton, (a no bid contract) >^^<
Bring the troops and the mercenaries home! If that indeed gets done, one can only applaud.
HOWEVER, what about the U.S. military bases in Iraq, and the 21-building U.S. fortress embassy in Baghdad?
8:22 pm addition:
ABC News reports that the State Department "is expected to have about 5,000 security contractors in Iraq as of January 2012 (they already have about 3,000 in country).” There will also be 4,500 “general life support” contractors to provide food and medical services.
quoted from the article "Soldiers May Be Leaving Iraq, But Contractors Will Remain," posted today at Common Dreams.
Moral of the story: never, ever, trust that scumbag of Obama.
Bingo
One word for Obomber-bullshit.
Where will Iraq get the money to purchase all the military crap that they don't need? American taxpayers will loan them the money! How generous of them.
After the U.S. destroyed the Iraqi infrastructure-water works, sewage facilities, power plants, hospitals, etc. (Bush I, Clinton, Bush II), do Iraqis need weapons to kill people?
Insanity. People running the U.S. are just plain nuts. And the American people will continue to vote for them. The perception is "Obomber is better than a Repugnican." Really? A difference?
How many people reading this will just follow the herd, like yesterdays mashed potatoes, & vote for four more years of lies.
Blackwater & other mercenaries will do the military duty, at five times the price of G.I.'s. Watch the American people get screwed again.
This is 100% bullshit, typical of the Plutocracy/MIC-controlled MSM, parroting whatever propaganda line they are instructed by the Powers That Be.
There will be upwards of 30,000 troops remaining behind in Iraq, indefinitely. Obama - just like his Orwellian predecessor did by changing the word "torture" to "enhanced interrogation" - simply changed the name of the "troops" staying behind to "advisers." The agreement with Iraq is 100% bullplop. And most Amereichans will believe every single word of this 100% cow-dung article.
I loved the loaded headline you provided to the very factual news article. Can't CD editors handle a bit of good news gracefully once in a while?
Denied immunity = Pulling troops out = Consciousness of guilt
This is an important legal concept that often results in prosecution... won't here because there are not enough lawyers with a conscience out there... and the few that are out there are overwhelmed with US government crimes. Too many crimes - too few lawyers of conscience...........
Bullshit. Bullshit. And more bullshit.
This little ploy won't get the little scumbag re-elected.
We'll have plenty of thugs 'left behind' to do the Man's dirty deeds.
Impeach the little runt and then try him & his band of criminals for treason – then hang 'em (or hunt them down like animals and give 'em the kind of "due process" he and his assassins are so more than willing to dish out to the world.)
"...to help Iraq with matters such as purchases of American weapons systems..."
"the exporting from the United States of warlike instruments and military stores is not to be interfered with." Washington 1793
This article is propaganda. I'm not buying it.
Why do the troops need immunity?
DUH
So they can commit crimes and get away with it?
Typical Associated Press corporate gibberish. Common Dream editors should refrain from publishing any article regarding the loss of American lives without an equal mention of the hundreds of thousands of slaughtered and murdered Iraqis.
If I wanted to read this garbage I'd click on a Yahoo headline.
Wait and see.
"Even with a full troop withdrawal, a VERY small number of military personnel will remain in Baghdad and at U.S. diplomatic facilities to help Iraq with matters such as purchases of American weapons systems, including Abrams tanks and F-16 fighters. But there will be no long-term military-led training program."
If "VERY" turns out to be true, then Iraq will finally be able to start rebuilding their country. If it turns out to be true, then the occupation may finally be over.
I know we have been lied to a lot, but just at the moment I dont know if it is bullshit or not. If O is really going to remove all troops from Iraq, then this is a very positive development. If O keeps this election promise, If he does not keep large quantities of troops within the bases I WILL be grateful. If it turns out to be yet another half truth, then I WONT be grateful.
And if "VERY" doesn't turn out to be true, the days of the lives of the remaining military personnel and/or mercenaries are numbered. So I think we can discount "VERY."
They were going anyways, but of course the mercs will remain. This is another con job to throw crumbs to the the Nation and Mother Jones crowd who are desperate for any reason to vote for Obama.
After Hillary Clinton cackled and joked about Ghaddafi's grisly murder (even Bush got Saddam a televised trial from his puppets), and Obama's full throated warmongering against Iran and unleashing of terminators across the world, the dark times are just getting started.
There is no surprise that whatever the President does he will get blasted by the we say no GOP. Guess there would be no difference if the President declared we will stay in Iraq for another 50 years. Lets face it the GOP just says no and they are truly the do nothing Party of all time. Lets see, no health care reform, no jobs for the unemployeed and just stick it to the FEDS and the phony 3.6 SSA benefit raise but a bigger raise on Medicare. Like I say the Party of No.
Guess what I say NO to the GOP in 2012.
We are leaving some troopss to train Iraqis to use (Abram tanks) and (F-16 fighter aircraft)!!!.
Why? What war will those weapons systems be used in? __ And mercenaries? Why? __ The annual salary for 10,000 mercenarise is near three billion, of course their employer, Halliburton gets a nice chunk of that money.
The war will never be over until we fire Halliburton and its kind. It will simply become privatized, more corrupt, more expensive and lawless. If anyone thinks private mercenaries will be preferable to US Army, they are seiously deluded.
Support Our Mercenaries!
The soldiers will come home to no jobs, maybe no home wife or kids, no health care to speak of...if you haven't experienced the post war VA system-don't say a word, They will all struggle with whatever demons follow them...but I suspect the military's industrial complex MIC, won't suffer one single dime or moment. Afterall, those corporations are people too and deserve some loving kindness from the coffers of the taxpayer. And who cares if it's at the expense of real human beings...certainly not OUR government. Soldiers...join OCCUPY.
Personally I think Obomba made this move as he winds up his chatty toy doll for the election..."See what I did?" as puke-refying as 'mission accomplished'...
Good points except for the point that he made this move for election purposes. Obama was forced to pull the troops under the Status of Forces Agreement signed under Bush. Obama has spent months trying to extend the troop presence in Iraq beyond the 12/31/11 deadline but could not get immunity for the troops so he had to pull them out. Now Obama and the Demobots are reframing Obama's failure to keep the troops in Iraq as success in getting them out for 2012 campaign purposes.
this should be a real wakeup call for the usa to choose the recipients of our service wisely. iraq cost us lives, dollars and almost a full scale economic deperession - and we can't even get immunity for the soldiers who are fighting and dying to help them?? i applaud president obama - pull all the soldiers out - once and for all - that way iraq can sleep soundly at night- not having to worry about the high risk american soldiers running around their country. if we're going to aid countries in the future - let's send our soldiers somewhere where they can be appreciated - like haiti or somalia or ethiopia - somewhere where they can kick ass and get the relief supplies through to the millions of people who are starving and dying. i honor the memory of all the brave soldiers who gave their lives at the request of their government and the call of duty. but i am thouroughly disgusted with the countries who show by their actions and behaviors that in no way do they appreciate or even recognize that effort. don't call us - we'll call you...
Well I see on CNN it appears the next nation we help will be Kenya! spin that globe Obomber I'm sure there are plenty of other mess's we can make worse by simply sending in the military!
>^^< at this moment I'd vote for Manson if it ment getting this loser out of Washington!!