Iraqis jubilantly celebrate U.S. troop withdrawal.

[ProSense]

Iraqis jubilantly celebrate U.S. troop withdrawal.

U.S. forces handed over formal control of Iraq’s major cities today (it is already Tuesday in Iraq), “a defining step toward ending the U.S. combat role in the country.” In celebration, Iraqis launched fireworks and “thousands attended a party in a park (in Baghdad) where singers performed patriotic songs. … Loudspeakers at police stations and military checkpoints played recordings of similar tunes throughout the day, as Iraqi military vehicles decorated with flowers and national flags patrolled the capital.” Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who had called the withdrawal a “great victory,” declared June 30 a public holiday. Some scenes of celebration around the country:

[K Gardner]

1. K&R. There just are no words.

[Cha]

2. I agree..it's a very

emotional thing:cry::)

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. I bet some people are really poutraged at the news.

[ProSense]

4. This is exciting news.

I'm celebrating with the Iraqis.

[vaberella]

6. Where are all the people who bitched that Obama lied about releasing the troops?

Aren't they excited by the verification that troops are out? This was one of my contentious issues with the President, glad he made good and we're getting out.

[vaberella]

5. That's what Haiti looked like when the US left in the 90s. n/t

[Buzz Clik]

7. This is an illusion. I was told today by a DUer that Obama was breaking all his promises about Iraq.

"These are not the Iraqi celebrants you are looking for."

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4C_tSMqS810/SZmZ_nkErQI/AAAAAAAADQM/Rc8OVX5iBPY/s400/Daniel+Dennett+and+atheism.JPG

[Clio the Leo]

8. Who would have thought...

.... a year ago that when such a major event happened, it would be so far down on the political radar that we'd hardly notice.

[cherokeeprogressive]

9. I am so very glad that the troops are coming home!

I can't imagine the joy that the mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters of our brave young (and some not so young) troops are feeling now that they're finally coming home. Finally, they can stop worrying about having a loved one killed in this illegal occupation.

It's a GIANT sigh of relief. So, the brigade per month statement was true after all. Kudos to President Obama. I thought it was so silly that anyone could ask us to wrap our minds around the fact that parts of Baghdad weren't considered to be within the city limits...

Baghdadis are finally free of US occupation. It's a happy day!

[vincna]

10. I wish the Iraqis well

I lived in that country when Sadaam Hussein was in charge and the lack of personal freedom and fear that the populace lived with was unbelievable. I hope they can maintain the focus and the will to remain free from whatever tyrannical forces would return them to that type of existance.

[Aristus]

14. What do you mean "return" them to that type of existence?

The Iraqis are celebrating because, with the American invasion and occupation, they understood that they were simply trading one form of tyranny for another. When a group of young Iraqi boys can't hop into a car and drive to local pizza parlor without getting greased by some nervous-nellie nineteen year-old G.I. with a machine gun, that is a lack of personal freedom. When a group of young Iraqi boys choose not to hop in a car and drive to a local pizza parlor because they are worried about getting greased by some nervous-nellie nineteen year-old G.I. with a machine gun, that is living in fear.

When an occupying army is on your soil, and a million of your countrymen are dead as a direct result of that, it is not understood nationwide as being a good thing. And when that occupying army leaves and takes their mechanisms of death with them, that is a thing to celebrate.

Your "Aintcha happy that we brung ya FREEDOM? Hm? HMM?" statement is ludicrous... :eyes:

[Colobo]

11. Let the Iraqis be free. Best of luck to them all.

[Colobo]

12. Let the Iraqis be free. Best of luck to them all.

[Zynx]

13. I want DUers who have doubted Obama's word on Iraq to write Obama and apologize

for being so ridiculous. He is and has been keeping his word.

[SpartanDem]

16. Yeah that'll happen

this is the same that group will flip out over what sources say Obama will or won't do, but when the bs id debunked are nowhere to be found.

[ProSense]

15. Iraq Marks Withdrawal of U.S. Troops From Cities

Iraq Marks Withdrawal of U.S. Troops From Cities

[izzybeans]

17. Independence Day vs. Michael Jackson

Vs. Sanford Vs. other nonsense

This is a big story, and no one is covering it with any depth.

I wonder what the significance of the Public Holiday will be (now and in the future).