The End of the War
| Fri Feb. 27, 2009 12:14 PM PST
Barack Obama explains his plan to withdraw from Iraq:Let me say this as plainly as I can: by August 31, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end....We will retain a transitional force to carry out three distinct functions: training, equipping, and advising Iraqi Security Forces as long as they remain non-sectarian; conducting targeted counter-terrorism missions; and protecting our ongoing civilian and military efforts within Iraq. Initially, this force will likely be made up of 35-50,000 U.S. troops.
Through this period of transition, we will carry out further redeployments. And under the Status of Forces Agreement with the Iraqi government, I intend to remove all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of 2011. We will complete this transition to Iraqi responsibility, and we will bring our troops home with the honor that they have earned.
There are some caveats, and Spencer Ackerman explains the details here. But the bottom line is simple: all combat troops will be out within 18 months, and all troops will be out within 34 months. That's probably not as quickly as I'd like to see it done, but it's probably about as quickly as it was ever likely to happen given the inherent instability of the political situation. Keep your fingers crossed.
Comments
"all combat troops will be
Submitted by josh (not verified) on Fri Feb. 27, 2009 12:51 PM PST.
"all combat troops will be out within 18 months, and all troops will be out within 34 months."
From what I understand, all troops in Iraq, including that will stay as a "transitional force" are combat troops, regardless of what we call them. I'm not saying this isn't an improvement, but it's not like the remaining force won't attack or be attacked.
"...but it's probably about
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri Feb. 27, 2009 1:11 PM PST.
"...but it's probably about as quickly as it was ever likely to happen given the inherent instability of the political situation."
And that's just in this country.
NOT the end of the war
Submitted by SocraticGadfly (not verified) on Fri Feb. 27, 2009 1:12 PM PST.
NO, he is NOT “ending combat” in Iraq, given that his own Pentagon has said “noncombat” troops will see combat.
I’m sure this is an issue where, contra John Judis, Mainstream Liberal Blogs like Steve’s are NOT going to have any pushback for Obama. Steve Benen did the same jumping in the tank half an hour ago.
Refuting the "end of combat" claim
Submitted by SocraticGadfly (not verified) on Fri Feb. 27, 2009 1:15 PM PST.
To further expose this nonsense, I suggest you read the most recent posts at Out of Iraq Bloggers Caucus.
For what it's worth, that
Submitted by max hats (not verified) on Fri Feb. 27, 2009 1:28 PM PST.
For what it's worth, that picture is not of an American serviceman. Brit I think, based on the rifle and camo pattern.
It's little details like this that make it hard to be a liberal member of the military. Friends tell me "liberals don't know anything about the military" and I pretty much have to say "yes, that is true."
Per NYT story, nothing is set in stone
Submitted by SocraticGadfly (not verified) on Fri Feb. 27, 2009 1:31 PM PST.
For ppl who claim the NYT story says "all troops out by the end of 2011," I quote the second-last graf of the story:
Representative John M. McHugh of New York, the ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, said Mr. Obama had reassured him that he would revisit the plan if circumstances changed.So, this AIN'T set in stone.
Isn't that a picture of a British Troop?
Submitted by RobertSeattle on Fri Feb. 27, 2009 1:48 PM PST.
Just making the observation.
The End of the War
Submitted by sdjokic (not verified) on Fri Feb. 27, 2009 4:35 PM PST.
The next quagmire is Afghanistan. This is where American troops will be recycled to.
moot
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri Feb. 27, 2009 7:29 PM PST.
As I have said before, the question of what Obama intends is simply moot. That's because what happens is entirely in Maliki's hands.
Suppose a year and a half Obama wants to pull the troups out, but Maliki pleads to keep them in because he fears a civil war. Can you imagine that Obama would risk pulling them out under those circumstances?
Now lets look at the opposite scenario. Suppose a year from now Maliki says he wants the troups out right away. It would be political suicide for Obama to keep the troups in under those circumstances, especially at it might provoke an anti-American revolt in Iraq.
So Maliki is really in the driver's seat. I think both Obama and McCain figured this out a good while ago, and the whole debate between them was just a political show.
Declaring an End to Combat in Iraq
Submitted by Trashhauler (not verified) on Sat Feb. 28, 2009 1:37 AM PST.
Such a declaration is beyond the power of any President - the enemy always gets a vote. Depending on the breaks, the end of the combat role might come quite a bit sooner or considerably later.
In any case, keeping a sizable force in Iraq after the so-called cessation of hostilities was always in the cards, no matter who became President.
Though attention now swings to the more difficult Afghanistan campaign, the mission of our troops in Iraq will remain critical for years to come.
Iraq Withdrawal
Submitted by Bob h (not verified) on Sat Feb. 28, 2009 6:44 AM PST.
If Nixon and Kissinger could do it in Vietnam, then Obama can do it here.
different case
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat Feb. 28, 2009 11:19 PM PST.
Nixon and Kissinger could get away with it in Viet Nam because they were Republicans.
end the war presence
Submitted by Anonymoussuzanne o'meara (not verified) on Sun Mar. 1, 2009 1:49 AM PST.
yes -end the war ; but many countries need help from the usa every day to prebvent wars of various kinds - in south africa, we need intervention in form of peace corps or similar.
we do not want any more of these violent money-making wars to occur.
but - we need in the future much stronger presiding ethical monitors & so on , for so many situations - at home domestic violence abuse os more out of control ; abuse by diplomats & tourism in cape town is a real murder war ; just going for a hike with the dogs - one must have police or other involvement. all our police & army are more corrupt every day & spying & perverts.
every doctor & health shop in my town is fully corrupt, worse than any mafia.
there is no freedom to have religion or enlightenment , due to our bad govt & diseases.
so end the wars , but send other help to all us countires in need.
or - the culprits here must be made to pay up - mybe that's better.
This is not 'his' plan for
Submitted by Sleep (not verified) on Mon Mar. 2, 2009 1:54 AM PST.
This is not 'his' plan for drawing down troops. The plan was always to withdraw troops as the ground and political truth allowed it. It's amazing that some people here still speak as if we were defeated in some Vietnam like quagmire. I guess you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. The troops did the job and finally Iraq is turning a corner where they will control their destiny. There is no telling what they will do with it but we provided the security for the peaceful prospects. Admit lefties, you were wrong. You said it couldn't, wouldn't and shouldn't be done. You said the war was 'Lost.' You made every effort to disgrace your troops and their mission. But they succeeded despite your attempts to sabatoge their success. While the future is still uncertain the past and present are documented and clear. If success or 'victory' was establishing a secure enough environment for Iraq to govern and defend itself then how about a big ole MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
Now let's get back to Afghanistan and Pakistan and kick some AQ/Tali butt. While we are at it let's hit them in Yemen, Somalia, Darfur, Algeria, Washington DC...etc
PS that is a British
Submitted by Sleep (not verified) on Mon Mar. 2, 2009 1:57 AM PST.
PS that is a British coalition soldier in the picture.
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